*Kanu’s trial not secret; IPOB, supporters can appear in court -Lawyer
* As DSS beefs up security around court premises
*Accredits media houses for coverage
*Obtains ‘Exclusive’ Videos for trial of Sunday Igboho
By Williams Orji, Abuja
Barring any last minute development, the Department of State Service (DSS), will today, Monday 26th July 2021, arraign leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for terrorism and treasonable felony charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Nnamdi Kanu, who was earlier put on trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony and sponsorship of unlawful organisation, had jumped bail granted him by the Federal High Court and escaped from Nigeria shortly after the bail was perfected for him by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who volunteered to stand surety for him.
Justice Binta Nyako who granted him bail on the ground of his Ill health, had revoked the bail on March 28, 2019 and issued a bench warrant for his arrest in any part of Nigeria.
Kanu was rearrested and repatriated a few weeks ago from Kenya.
Justice Binta Nyako is expected to preside over the trial while a senior lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Shuaib Labaran, will lead the prosecution team for the government.
According to Daily Post, about 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have been assembled by family members and well-wishers of Kanu to provide adequate defence for the accused secession agitator.
The DSS is spearheading the trial on behalf of the Federal Government and is expected to provide adequate security at the venue of the trial.
As of yesterday, July 25th, stern-looking DSS operatives have been stationed at all the premises within the court vicinity.
It was learnt that adequate security measures will be put in place by various security agencies to ward off possible breakdown of order or unruly behaviour from any quarter during the trial.
According to Daily Post, the security operatives, apparently learning from past experiences, have resolved to block all roads leading to the court to prevent vehicular movement while thorough checking of staff of the court and visitors will be undertaken.
Nnamdi Kanu’s trial not secret, IPOB, other supporters can appear in court Monday – Lawyer
However, Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, on Sunday warned security agents against molesting supporters of the agitator during Monday’s resumed court proceedings.
Ejimakor explained that Kanu’s trial is an “open trial,” hence his supporters wishing to show solidarity during Monday’s court proceedings are not doing anything illegal.
Ahead of the trial, there are indications that IPOB members and Kanu’s supporters may not be allowed in during the court proceedings.
However, Ejimakor, in a statement said Kanu’s supporters have the constitutional rights to be present during the hearing.
According to Ejimakor “This press statement is prompted by media reports indicating that those coming to Abuja to show solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be harassed or even arrested by security agents.
“Let me make it clear that while I am not calling on people or Kanu’s supporters to throng Abuja for the hearing on Monday, it’s important to state that anybody who wishes to come is not doing anything illegal, provided such a person comes in peace.
“Kanu’s trial is an open trial, not a secret trial and he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, anybody wishing to be associated with his trial by being present in Abuja is protected by his Constitutional right to freedom of association and movement.
“So, my message to all supporters of Kanu and even to Nigerian government is simple and that is: Everybody should be strictly guided by the rule of law pertinent to why Nnamdi Kanu is facing these tribulations and trials.
“That pertinent rule of law is clearly codified by CAP A9, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, where it is stated at Article 20 that:
“All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen.
“Above is the fulcrum of every other crime the Nigerian government is alleging against Kanu. Therefore, once the government recognizes that the enterprise upon which Kanu is engaged is expressly recognized or protected by laws, it will see that dialogue, not trials and violence, is the only legal pathway to containing it.
“I am saying this because the same Law that legalizes self-determination also requires the government to accommodate it. Article 1 of that Law provides that Nigeria “shall recognise the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the Charter and shall undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to them.”
DSS accredits media outlets for coverage of Nnamdi Kanu’s trial
Meanwhile, the Department of State Service (DSS) has accredited about ten media outlets for the July 26 coverage of the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, in the terrorism and treasonable felony charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Others accredited for the trial coverage are Premium Times, Daily Post, Thisday, The Nation, The Herald and Daily Independent newspapers while the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is leading the broadcast side.
Other broadcast media are the Channels Television, Africa Independent Television, AIT, and Television Continental, TVC.
The restriction of media houses into the courtroom was part of the security measures put in place by the management of the Federal High Court in Abuja and DSS to control crowds at the court premises.
It will be recalled that after over two years of manhunt, the Federal Government rearrested the Biafran leader in Kenya and was immediately brought to Nigeria for continuation of his trial.
The Attorney General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, had on Tuesday June 29 at an emergency media briefing in his office in Abuja announced the re- arrest of Kanu.
DSS obtains dozens of ‘Exclusive’ Videos for Trial of Sunday Igboho
In a related development, the Federal Government is assembling critical evidence that will make the trial of Yoruba secessionist leader, Sunday Igboho smooth sailing following his arrest and detention by the government of the Benin Republic.
Among the critical pieces of evidence are dozens of ‘exclusive’ videos where Igboho allegedly issued inciting statements that may aid Nigeria in filing treasonable and felony charges against self-appointed Yoruba political leader.
The video clips, PRNigeria gathered, would be used by some security and intelligence agencies in prosecuting Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho to ensure the self-acclaimed Yoruba secessionist leader is indicted in the Court.
Igboho, a Yoruba Secessionist was arrested at an airport in the Benin Republic while fleeing Nigeria to Germany. The ‘Yoruba Nation’ lead advocate was declared wanted by the Department of State Services, DSS.
His house in Ibadan was raided during a clandestine operation by a combined team of security operatives and men of the DSS, in June.
A top-ranking operative of one of the intelligence agencies told PRNigeria that the video clips will suffice as their evidence in nailing Igboho who is yet to be extradited back to Nigeria from Cotonou, the capital of Benin before a law court.
Apart from behind the scene scheming of security agencies, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami is yet to unveil the Ministry’s strategies towards the prosecution of Igboho.
The spokesperson to Justice Minister, Dr. UMar Jibrilu Gwandu told PRNigeria that “It is a legal, judicial and the discretionary issue over which the Attorney General consider the public interest and the interest of justice to decide. The Attorney General of the Federation is considering and I believe is not bound by time limitations in exercising that discretion and considering the beneficial approach.”
PRNigeria has published some of the videos which included Igboho’s threat to Kill Tinubu and other Yoruba Leaders over the Oduduwa Republic and Elections in Nigeria (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHXrs3HGI0s).
There is also a video where Igboho was mocking the death of Pastor Adeboye’s son and praying to God to kill wives and children of Leaders that do not support the Yoruba Nation.
In another video, Sunday Igboho Dared Soldiers, Police, DSS operatives when they attempted to arrest him as he removed his Shirt. His followers too were shown interrogating a man they claimed they captured as a DSS Guy’ at Osogbo Yoruba Rally.
Another video shows Igboho directing his follower to forcefully open borders for smugglers with a follow-up video showing his militias invading Idiroko Border and snatching guns from Nigeria Custom Officers.
Apart from boasting of acquiring guns and ammunition to fight security personnel, he also threatened that “if 1,000 policemen invade my house, hardly will 100 return.”
There is also a video of a live broadcast by one ‘Lady K’ when DSS stormed Igboho’s residence. The lady could be heard calling on Yoruba Odua Warriors to come to their rescue and attack the security operatives from the back.
The DSS later paraded Lady K, Odua Yoruba nation warriors, arms and charms recovered from Igboho residence.
