Nnamdi Kanu Appears In Court As DSS Blocks All Entrace

Security agents have barricaded the Federal High Court Abuja, ahead of scheduled re-arraingment of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu who is present in court, is expected to take a fresh plea before trial Justice Binta Nyako, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on incitement, treasonable felony and terrorism.

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

Journalists and lawyers are currently denied entry into the court premises.

Though staff members 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. 

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

FG had in the mended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, which was 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.

FG alleged that as a result of Kanu’s directive, 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 President Muhammadu Buhari 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”.

Kanu was alleged to have committed treasonable felony.