The demand for a referendum on secession of Biafra from Nigeria assumed a front burner on Thursday with thev Yoruba and Efik ethnic nationalities filing an application to be part of the suit filed by the Coalition of Northern Groups.
The CNG had in June 2021, dragged the National Assembly, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to Court asking them to conduct a referendum to determine the fate of Biafra agitators.
The case was first adjourned till January 20, 2022, after Justice Inyang Ekwo could not sit due to an official assignment.
But the case could not be heard again on Thursday because the Judge was said to be indisposed.
The counsel for CNG, Safiyanu Idris, told Journalists that the case had been adjourned again, to March 14, 2022, because Justice Ekwo was absent.
“Since the last adjournment, the matter was adjourned to today (January 20) for the continuation of motion as they are people that have filed an application to join the suit.
“We came here for the applications but it happened that the Judge is also not sitting today.
“But in between the time, there is a particular group. The Ijaw group have filed an application for joinder in the matter. Now the matter is adjourned to the 14 of March 2022.
The CNG had gone to Court to seek a referendum to determine the fate of Biafra and other separatist organisations in Nigeria.
The Spokesperson of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, has explained why the coalition filed the suit.
He said, “What we are doing is to save the country, ourselves and the future of the country because these people are becoming violent already. Most of the people engaged in this activity are below 50.
“So, if we allow our leaders to leave us with these people in this situation, there may be another bloodshed or civil war. That is what we want to avoid, which is why we came to the court to interpret the situation.
Source: Punch
