The legal team for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has affirmed its determination to visit their client despite limitations imposed by the Department of State Services (DSS). Kanu's lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, warned that continued restrictions could lead to legal repercussions for the DSS from the Abuja Federal High Court.
The DSS restricted Kanu’s legal access following recent tensions at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Kanu demanded the recusal of Justice Binta Nyako. In response, the court cautioned that DSS Director General Adeola Ajayi could face jail time if access for Kanu's legal team is not reinstated.
In an interview on Arise TV, Ejimakor disclosed that political figures, including Obi Agwoucha and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, had stepped in to mediate. Ejimakor noted he was informally advised that the DSS might ease the restrictions: “I received some signals, indicating that DSS may now be prepared to accommodate our request. I was asked to provide a list of lawyers intending to visit Kanu on Monday, and I have complied.”
Ejimakor emphasized that under Section 36 of Nigeria’s Constitution, Kanu is entitled to counsel access. He pointed out that Kanu should ideally be held in a prison facility rather than the DSS’s high-security facility, which often imposes stricter regulations: “We’re not asking the DSS to overhaul its system overnight, but if they insist on holding him there, they need to make accommodations. Failure to do so could lead to court action.”
The standoff underscores broader concerns over detainee rights and due process in Nigeria, with Kanu’s legal team poised to escalate the issue if access restrictions persist.
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