Nnamdi Kanu’s trial: Lawyers protest after DSS, police bar them from court

Lawyers in their numbers protested in front of the federal high court in Abuja after being locked out by security agents on Thursday.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), officers of the Nigerian Police Force were seen guarding every entrance to the court and the streets leading to the court building because of the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Kanu, who was re-arraigned in court on Thursday, pleaded not guilty to an amended seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism preferred against him by the federal government.

Some of the lawyers locked out claimed to be in Kanu’s legal team, while others said they were in court to handle cases of other litigants.

Aloy Ejimakor, one of Kanu’s counsel, said the government had plans to isolate him in court.

Eventually, Ejimakor and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel, were granted access into the courtroom.

Defendants who were brought from prison to attend their trial were also locked out.

No journalist was allowed into the courtroom.

Representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural group, were in court to witness the trial.

Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former governor of Anambra state, was one of the representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.