A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned till October 20, 2022, the hearing of the suit filed by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) seeking a referendum to determine fate of Biafra and other self-determination agitations.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the matter on Friday, granted all the motions to allow interested parties to be joined in the suit for the country to conduct a referendum.
Speaking to journalists after the adjournment, Counsel to CNG, Barrister Sufiyanu Gambo Idris, said, “What the plaintiff is asking for is the opportunity for all Nigerians to be given the chance whether they want to stay in Nigeria or not, which is their right and we are equally calling for that.
“We felt by the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, every citizen in an African country has the right to say he is no longer interested in remaining in that country, not just Nigeria.
“We felt with the development and our clients felt the right thing to do is to allow every citizen to decide whether she still wants to stay in Nigeria or not. If you want to stay, let him stay peacefully, and if you want to go, go peacefully,” he said.
On his part, the lead counsel for the Igbo Nation, Victor C. Onweremadu, said that the South East is properly joined in matter because the court accepted the argument to join the region.
He said: “The referendum is only thing that can bring peace in this country. The Igbo nation have been marginalized so much. There is an unjust treatment to the Igbo people in this country. Igbo have suffered in this country.
