100 lawyers line up to defend his human rights
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
More than 100 lawyers for Nnamdi Kanu were barred from entering the premises of the Abuja High Court on Thursday when the Department of State Security brought him for continuation of his trial.
A source at the court told TheNiche that even Goddy Uwazuike (SAN), the lawyer for Ohaneze, was not allowed to enter the premises. Former Anambra State Governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, was also barred.
The British Consul was allowed inside but the DSS denied her request to speak with Kanu. She has approached the judge for permission. The proceedings are ongoing.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), is being tried for treason for agitating for a separate country for the South East because of its marginalisation by Nigeria’s federal authorities.
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On Kanu’s side, only barristers Aloy Ejimakor, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, and Opara were allowed in. On the government side were Labaran and Abubakar. Then a few DSS personnel and the British Consul.
When the proceedings started at about 11.30am, government lawyers addressed the court. Then a plea was taken and Kanu’s lawyers moved a motion to transfer him to prison, which was opposed by the prosecution.
Kanu was “very upbeat,” according to our source in the courtroom. He said the courtroom itself was scanty as only a few lawyers were allowed inside.
The application filed by Ejiofor to transfer Kanu to prison was denied on security grounds. However, the jurisdiction of the court to try him was challenged on the basis of the extraordinary rendition.
The challenge was filed in writing on October 20 and the court fixed November 10 for hearing on the motion.
Sowore denied access to court, attacked by hoodlums
A fellow separatist agitator, Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters, was attacked by suspected hoodlums.
He was denied access to the court by security operatives and when he was still talking to them, about 20 boys arrived. Their presence was noticeable in the confusion because they looked unkempt, per reporting by The Nation.
It seemed clear that they were there for trouble. But to the surprise of everyone, the security agents kept silent.
The hoodlums descended on Sowore, slapping and punching him. To the surprise of everyone, the security agents just looked on; then intervened after shouting from those present by holding him back.
The hoodlums left without being apprehended by the security agents. This led to another outrage as people around demanded they be arrested.
Members of the public then chased the attackers to apprehend them as the security operatives looked on. When the situation got rowdy, the security operatives intervened and held a couple of them.
The lukewarm attitude of the security agents caused speculation that the hoodlums were backed by the government.
Before the incident, Sowore said: “A court room is not complete except people are there to witness proceedings. I want to sit right in front of the judge and witness it all.
“They have assured us that Kanu will get justice. He is my friend and I should be here. But the security agencies are still not allowing me in.”
After the situation with the hoodlums, the security operatives got hostile and attacked everyone, including journalists. They hit some journalists with sticks and pushed some.
They threatened to break the cameras of some journalists and other people recording the scene and forced some to delete their videos and photos.
They chased everyone away from the vicinity of the court except a few journalists who refused to leave. But even after they identified themselves as journalists, the security personnel remained hostile and continued to threaten.