BY QUADRI SALIU
As the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu begins today Thursday, at the High Court in Abuja, Nigeria Security operatives have barred lawyers, journalists and the activist Omoyele Sowore from accessing the courtroom to witness his trial.
Sowore who was dressed in traditional Isi-agu attire was told to go back by operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police Force.
Sowore who spoke to journalists said he was at the court for a number of reasons.
He said, “I am here to check the registry because for a while I have not been charged to court, I need to know about my treason case.
“Also I am here to witness the trial of my friend, Nnamdi Kanu, the court is a public space and the public should not be barred from accessing the courtroom.
“People have the right to self-determination, Nigeria has not worked and will never work. So Nnamdi Kanu is not wrong and his trial should not be in secret.
“Security operatives have consistently failed to do their jobs and now you see them harassing journalists and lawyers.
Also, it was discovered that the journalists who came for the event were denied access to the courtroom.
This is just as the security operatives stationed at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice building told journalists that only accredited judiciary reporters would be allowed in.
Contrary to the security operative statement, even the accredited journalists were also not yet allowed to enter the court.
Punch reports that as of 8 am its judiciary correspondent and photojournalist, as well as several others, were standing outside, Also, some lawyers have been denied access to the courtroom.
