Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has pleaded not guilty to the seven-count amended indictment brought by the Federal Government against him.
Kanu, who was docked before trial Justice Binta Nyako, stated after the charge was read to him in open court that he was innocent of all the accusations leveled against him by the FG.
His re-arrangement occurred on the same day that the Department of State Services, DSS, flatly refused to allow even one journalist into the courtroom.
Though seven journalists were initially allowed to access the grounds at the main gate of the court, when he arrived at the entrance leading to the courtroom, arm-wielding secret service officers denied him entry.
The operators maintained that their actions were based on “higher orders.”
They made it plain that no journalists would be permitted to enter the courtroom until the procedures were over.
“You people can go to your press centre and wait till the end of the matter, after then, you will receive a briefing on what happened”, one of the hooded operatives stated.
Meanwhile, a source inside the courtroom, disclosed that the embattled IPOB leader took his fresh to the amended charge at about 10:45 am.
The proceeding is still ongoing, as Kanu is expected to push for either his release on bail pending the determination of the case against him or his transfer from the custody of the DSS to a Correctional Center.
Security agents are drawn from the DSS, the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army, had as early as 4 am, blocked all roads leading to the high court premises which is adjacent the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters.
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.
