By Abimbola Falana :
The Department of State Services (DSS) has once more denied detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, access to his legal team, fueling criticism and concern. This restriction, seen as a direct defiance of previous court orders, has led to fresh calls for accountability.
Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lead counsel, disclosed the DSS’s recent action in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), expressing frustration over the continued disregard for judicial rulings that guarantee Kanu’s right to meet with his legal representatives. “Today, in a blatant & continuing disobedience of extant court order, the DSS barred the Legal Team of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from conducting a visitation with him,” he stated.
In response to this latest restriction, Ejimakor vowed that previously suspended legal actions to enforce compliance with court orders would now resume, with renewed vigor. The DSS’s actions have previously attracted judicial warnings, as the Abuja Federal High Court cautioned DSS officials—including Director General Adeola Ajayi—that failure to comply with visitation rights could lead to contempt charges and possible jail time.
Nnamdi Kanu has remained in DSS detention since 2021, following his controversial arrest and transfer from a foreign country. His ongoing detention has sparked heated debate and widespread criticism from human rights organizations, both locally and globally. Many argue that Kanu’s detention process violated international legal standards and his fundamental rights, and they view the continued denial of his legal team’s access as a troubling erosion of judicial authority and basic human rights.
The ongoing developments continue to draw significant attention, underscoring the ongoing friction between legal authority and security agencies and raising pressing concerns about the broader implications for Nigeria’s justice system and respect for individual rights.