Femi
Fani Kayode was today briefly barred from attending the legal
proceedings of Biafra separatist, Nnamdi Kanu before an external
intervention.
Femi Fani Kayode (middle)
There was a mild drama at the Abuja Division of the Federal High
Court this morning, as security operatives, barred former Minister of
Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, from entering inside the court scheduled
to deliver ruling on whether the detained leader of the Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, should be released on bail.
Kanu, who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra is facing trial
alongside three other pro-Biafra agitators, Chidiebere Onwudiwe,
Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
Trial Justice Nyako had slated today to rule on applications by the
defendants seeking to be admitted to bail pending determination of the
five-count criminal charge the Federal Government slammed against them.
Fani-Kayode, who is equally facing criminal charges the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him, upon his
arrival at the court to face his trial, sought to gain entry into the
sister court handing Kanu’s case but was blocked by operatives of the
Department of State Service, DSS.
It took the intervention of lawyers to persuade the security
operatives to let the former Minister into the courtroom, even though
officials of Kuje Prison had yet to bring the defendants to court for
the ruling.
Atmosphere within the heavily-guarded high court premises is
tensed, with many pro-Biafra supporters, brandishing different Biafra
insignia and flags, chanting at a distance, as they were also barred
from standing within perimeters of the court premises by gun wielding
security men.
Journalists are equally facing tough hurdle to gain entry into the
court room, with a few that managed to squeeze in, ordered to surrender
their handsets.
The ruling will also determine whether FG should be allowed to
shield identities of witnesses billed to testify against the defendants.
More details soon.


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