The legal team of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has raised concerns about his welfare, alleging that the Department of State Services (DSS) has completely isolated him from visitors, including his lawyers.
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s special lawyer, stated that the DSS blocked the legal team from meeting with Kanu during a routine visit to the Abuja headquarters, despite existing court orders. This marks the first time Kanu has been denied access to visitors since his last court appearance in September.
Ejimakor suggested that the DSS’s actions may be related to Kanu’s successful recusal of Justice Binta Nyako from his case. The recusal was later overturned by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
The legal team has previously filed applications to enforce court-ordered visitations but has yet to receive a hearing. This has led to concerns about the DSS’s disregard for the law and the Constitution.
Ejimakor questioned the DSS’s motives for denying access to Kanu, stating that the court-ordered visitations are intended to ensure his well-being and allow his relatives and lawyers to interact with him.
Ejimakor posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Today (14th October 2024), in violation of subsisting orders of court, the State Security Services (DSS or SSS) blocked the Legal Team of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from seeing him when we went to its headquarters in Abuja on a routine visitation to Mazi Kanu, pursuant to court-ordered visitation regimen.
“It will be recalled that the DSS has not allowed any visitors to see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu since his last court appearance on 24th September 2024 when Mazi Kanu had demanded the recusal of Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako from his case.
“It is now becoming increasingly clear that this latest unconstitutionality emanating from the DSS has a direct nexus to Mazi Kanu’s successful recusal of Justice Nyako, even as the recusal was subsequently vacated by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“We wish to go on the record to recall that, in the recent past when the DSS had also violated terms of the court-ordered visitations, we levied applications before the Federal High Court to enforce its compliance but the applications have, to this day, not been scheduled for hearing. This anomaly leaves the uncanny impression that the DSS is above the law or even above the Constitution and the Courts.
“The DSS should know that one of the reasons for the court-ordered visitations is for Mazi Kanu’s relatives and lawyers to occasionally interact with him and have proof of his life and wellbeing. Thus, now that the DSS has totally blocked all access to Mazi Kanu, one might ask: What is the DSS hiding? Is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hale and hearty?”
The complete isolation raises concerns about Kanu’s health and safety.
