Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team faces yet another hurdle as the DSS denies them access to their client following his request for the trial judge to withdraw. The lawyers suspect the government’s displeasure with Kanu’s request is behind the refusal.
In the latest development surrounding the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the legal team of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised concerns over the refusal of the Department of State Services (DSS) to grant them access to their client. According to Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s special counsel, the lawyers arrived at the DSS facility in Abuja on September 27, 2024, to discuss court proceedings and strategize for the next phase of the trial but were denied entry for hours.
Ejimakor, in a video statement recorded from the DSS premises, expressed deep suspicion over the DSS’s actions, linking the denial to Kanu’s recent request that the judge handling his case withdraw due to alleged bias. Ejimakor stated, “We have credible reasons to believe that the DSS and the federal government are displeased with Kanu’s request for the judge to recuse himself, which may explain their refusal to allow us to meet with him.”
Nnamdi Kanu’s legal battle has been a focal point of political and judicial contention in Nigeria. Arrested in 2021 after being extradited from Kenya, Kanu has faced charges related to treason and terrorism. His detention and trial have sparked widespread protests, particularly in Nigeria’s southeast, with his supporters calling for his immediate release and describing him as a freedom fighter.
The case has taken various twists, including legal victories for Kanu, where courts have ordered his release on multiple occasions, but the Nigerian government has failed to comply. This latest denial of access to his lawyers adds to the growing concerns over the fairness of his trial. Kanu’s legal team has voiced frustration, claiming that the DSS has continuously complicated the judicial process and denied Kanu his fundamental rights.
Ejimakor emphasized that the legal team would continue to push for justice and transparency in the trial. “We want the world to know what is happening here,” he said, urging the international community to take note of the Nigerian government’s actions. The lawyer hinted that further legal measures would be taken in response to the DSS’s actions.
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