Just in: Tension as Ezeife is barred from attending Nnamdi Kanu’s trial

There was tension on Thursday morning as detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, arrived at the Federal High Court, Abuja for his re-arraingment.

Kanu wore a white Fendi-designer clothe and brought in on a black Sports Utility Vehicles at about 8am, was ushered into the courtroom at 10am by security operatives.

A British envoy in Nigeria came to the court to witness the trial of Kano, who is also a British citizen.

But a former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who also came to witness the trail, along with a number of other Igbo leaders, was prevented from gaining access to the courtroom.

It was found out that there was a heavy security presence in and around the court premises. Indeed, from Transcorp Hilton through the Ministry of Justice and Abia House, there was a combined team of police, soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services operatives numbering over 100.

The IPOB leader is facing a seven-count amended charge bordering on incitement, treasonable felony and terrorism.

Kanu was in June, arrested in Kenya and returned back to Nigeria for continuation of his trial.

Though his lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has been granted access into the courtroom, other lawyers, journalists and representatives of apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, were barred from entering the court premises.