DSS bars journalists, lawyers, as Kanu appears in court, pleads not guilty

The Department of State Services (DSS) Thursday shut the doors against media coverage of the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu was finally brought to court on Thursday morning as his trial over alleged terrorism and treasonable felony commenced in Abuja.

The Federal Government, last week, filed an amended seven-count criminal charge against Kanu, upon which he has been re-arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Kanu and four others were arraigned in 2016 on a six-count criminal charge but abandoned his trial in 2017, following alleged threat to his life after his family house was attacked by the military.

He was however re-arrested and brought to the country to continue his trial in June, this year.

He pleaded not guilty to the seven-count amended charge the Federal Government preferred against him, according to a source who was inside the courtroom.

Arm-wielding DSS operatives at the entrance door to the courtroom denied journalists entry. One of them who spoke insisted their action was based on “order from above”.

He made it clear that no journalist would be allowed to enter the courtroom until the end of the proceedings.

“You people can go to your press centre and wait till the end of the matter, after then, you will receive a briefing on what happened,” the hooded operative directed.

The embattled IPOB leader took his fresh plea to the amended charge at about 10:45 am, our source disclosed.

DSS, Police Army take over streets

Security agents drawn from the DSS, the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army, had as early as 4am, blocked all roads leading to the high court premises which is adjacent the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters.

Though staff of the court were initially barred by the heavily armed security operatives, they were subsequently cleared to enter their offices after they protested.

Stern-looking DSS operatives had specifically threatened to deal with any journalist recording or taking pictures of the unfolding drama, according to reports.

Cameramen from major television stations in the country, including those from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) were ordered to shut down and face their cameras on an uncompleted building opposite the court premises.

READ: Nnamdi Kanu was kidnapped by Nigerian government – Soyinka

Aside journalists, lawyers with the exception of Kanu’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, were denied access into the courtroom.

Also prevented from witnessing the proceedings were representatives of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife.

The Federal Government had in the amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, signed by a team of government lawyers, led by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, alleged that Kanu had in furtherance of an act of terrorism, issued a deadly threat that anyone that flouted his sit-at-home order should write his or her will.

As a result of Kanu’s directive, the government alleged that banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses, with vehicular movements grounded in the South East region of the country.

It said the action amounted to an offence contrary to and punishable under 1(2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

FG alleged that Kanu had “on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did in a broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu state and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

He was alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria

He was alleged to had between 2018 and 2021, through Radio Biafra, professed to be a member of IPOB, a proscribed organization in Nigeria, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16 of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

In count five of the charge, FG alleged that Kanu had on April 22, 2021, in London, the United Kingdom, on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other parts of Nigeria, did an act of terrorism “in that you incite the other members (followers) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization in Nigeria, to look for security personnel, their family members through a Radio Biafra on 102.1FM monitored through the IPOB Community Radio, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”

Attached in support of the amended charge dated October 14, included a seven-paragraph ed affidavit of completion of investigation deposed to by one Loveme Odubo, a prosecutor in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

FG equally lined up five witnesses to testify in the matter, among whom are officials of the Department of State Service, DSS, and one Ronald S. who was identified as the manager of a Hotel in Lagos.

It was learnt that Kanu’s legal team had challenged his detention and sought that he should be moved from DSS custody to Kuje prison in Abuja.

But Justice Binta Nyako, rejected the application.

She then adjourned the matter till November 10 and the IPOB leader was whisked out of the court in a convoy of white Hilux van.