FULL STORY OF EVERYTHING NNAMDI KANU FACED TODAY: FROM HIS ARREST TO TRIAL ANS SO ON (VIDEOS)
Touchaheart Nigeria reports that SSS and police prevent journalists and attorneys from courtrooms during Nnamdi Kanu’s trial
Journalists and attorneys are having a difficult time getting into the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is scheduled to stand trial today, Thursday.
Mr Kanu is facing allegations of treasonable felony in connection with his separatist activities. On Thursday, the trial will resume before Binta Nyako, the trial judge.
Mr Kanu, who was granted bail in April 2017, departed the nation after the military invaded his home in Afara-Ukwu, outside Umuahia, Abia State, in September of that year, a circumstance described by one of his lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor, as the “rule of self-preservation.”
On a seven-count revised charge, Mr Kanu is set to enter a new plea today.
There are three tiers of security checks on the street connecting the court to the Federal Ministry of Justice in Maitama, which are strongly staffed by hooded SSS operatives and armed police personnel.
Security agents are turning away workers, so businesses, particularly hotels near the court’s precincts, are closed up.
Angry lawyers engaged the surveillance agents in a yelling brawl, according to our correspondent.
Some of the lawyers were frisked before being allowed into the courtroom, while the remainder of them were sent away, despite the fact that their cases were set for Thursday before different justices of the court.
“My case is scheduled to be heard by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, but I have been denied entrance,” a worried lawyer informed this reporter, who did not want his name used.
Workers at the Federal High Court in Abuja were not spared the inconvenience of getting to work because they had to walk around 50 meters to get to the court.
Over 200 armed security personnel with water cannons and operational vehicles are on the scene.
The court’s bordering streets were closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
At 8:22 a.m., a commando-style convoy of SSS operatives drove into the court through the judge’s entry.
The IPOB boss was suspected to be in the caravan.
A darkened SUV with a diplomatic car number plate pulled into the courtroom shortly after.
This might be members of the diplomatic corps, as Mr Kanu’s lead lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said at a pre-trial press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
Members of the international community, according to Mr Ejiofor, would be present at the proceedings in Abuja on Thursday.
Mr Ejiofor had also pleaded with the SSS to let media and attorneys attend Mr Kanu’s trial on Thursday, but his plea appears to have gone unheeded.
“The show of shame openly demonstrated by the overzealous security agents on July 26, 2021, should never repeat itself,” Mr Ejiofor had said on Wednesday.
At the last proceedings when journalists and lawyers were manhandled, Mr Kanu who is being held by State Security Service (SSS), was not brought to court, a development that was blamed on “logistical issues” by the prosecuting lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar.
There won’t be fair trail – Ohaneze Ndigbo
The Ohaneze Ndigbo has said there will not be fair trial of Mr Kanu.
Ralph Uwazurike, a lawyer, who was detailed to watch brief on behalf of Ohaneze, said the attitude of the Nigerian security operatives at the court premises on Thursday, showed that the IPOB leader would not get a fair hearing.
“It is now clear that Nnamdi Kanu will not get fair trial,” Mr Uwazurike told journalists on Thursday at the court premises.
The atmosphere at the court is tense.
Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a representative of Ohaneze Ndigbo, a South-east Nigerian socio-cultural organization, came at the courthouse at 9:10 a.m.
The governor of Anambra State, Mr Ezeife, was denied entry to the courtroom.
Kanu’s trial: Few lawyers, journalists await Judge, IPOB leaders’ arrival in court
