The Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) was established as a response to longstanding grievances faced by the Biafran people, aiming to advocate for self-determination and address issues related to governance and human rights.
Formed by members of the Biafran independence movement, BRGIE operates outside Nigeria, striving to mobilize international support and raise awareness about the plight of the Biafran people.
The organization seeks to legitimize its claims through legal channels, representing a significant shift in the strategy adopted by Biafra advocates.
One of the methods of BRGIE is presenting well-documented cases and leveraging existing international legal frameworks as it has done recently, filing a case against Nigeria with the African Union.
Details of the Legal Communication and Response
On May 23, 2024, the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) submitted a detailed legal communication to the designated legal authority, asserting its cases regarding procedural violations encountered in its preceding engagements.
This submission was meticulously crafted to align with the rules laid down, specifically referencing rule 115(2)(d) of the 2020 rules of procedure. This rule mandates that all communications must adhere strictly to established protocols, emphasizing clarity, relevance, and adherence to timeline stipulations.
Following this initial communication, the BRGIE received a response dated June 19, 2024. The response, while acknowledging receipt of the initial submission, controversially indicated that the matter raised in the communication would not be seized.
This decision raises significant legal implications, particularly in terms of compliance with procedural rules. By operating outside the boundaries set by the rules of procedure, the authority’s stance, powered by Abiola Idowu-Ojo secretary to the commission, who is a Nigerian could be interpreted as an infringement not only on BRGIE’s right to fair legal consideration but also on the integrity of established legal protocols.
In a report that was shared with TBPA, BRGIE said, “We successfully filed the communication on the 23rd of May 2024 and on the 19th of June, we received a response that the communication will not be seized, reason being the failure to comply with rule 115(2)(d) of the 2020 rules of procedure.
“When you check the rules of procedure, failure to comply with rule 115(2)(d) subsequently requires rule 115(4) to be fulfilled and not the response we got.
“Further investigation reveals that the Secretary to the Commission is a Nigerian and has violated the rules of procedure of which she herself amended according to the Center for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
“We have further demanded an explanation as to how the procedure was not followed according to the rules and the commision never responded. We are also taking the matter up but we decided that it’s necessary for the public to become aware of the corruption by the Nigerian representative.
See the filing “Biafra Vs Nigeria” PDF below:
Below is the profile of the secretary to the commission, Abiola Idowu-Ojo:
Recall that BRGIE has made public its plan to declare Biafra’s independence in Finland at its three-day convention in December 2024.
