A human rights group, Concerned Nigerians for the Protection of Human Rights and Rule of Law Initiative, has condemned the practise of preventing Nigerians from having access to courtrooms during high profile cases.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force had on Thursday closed entrances and the streets leading to the Federal High Court, Abuja 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 counts bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism preferred against him by the Nigerian government.
Convener of the group, Deji Adeyanju in a letter to the Inspector General of Police described the action as unlawful.
The group sent copies of the letter to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, National Security Adviser and Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
The letter read, “We write, with great sadness, to draw your attention to the reoccurring and unlawful blockage of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by security agencies, particularly officers from the State Security Services, anytime Nnamdi Kanu’s case or other ‘high profile’ case comes up for trial, as was observed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 21, 2021, when Nnamdi Kanu’s case came up for trial.
“You may note that section 36(3) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, clearly provides that the courtroom shall be accessible to members of the public. However, contrary to the aforementioned provisions, your officers have developed the habit of blocking all access to the court courtroom, during the so ‘high profile’ trials, thereby denying members of the public, including lawyers and litigants, access to the courtroom.”