Nnamdi Kanu: Senator Ifeanyi Uba lambasts security agents for denying him access to court

By PASCHAL NJOKU, Abuja

Senator Ifeanyi Uba, representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, on Thursday lambasted security operatives for refusing him access to the Federal High Court Abuja.

Uba was sighted at the Court’s after the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was adjourned to November 10.
Reacting to the development, Uba who was visibly angry, told judiciary reporters in an interview that he was unfairly treated as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Senator said he came to court to attend proceedings in a matter he filed only to be denied entrance into the court.

“As a serving senator of the Federal Republic, today, I have a case in court and I was to present myself in court regarding a motion on notice I filed.

“This morning, I came to the court from the Transcorp axis, it was blocked, I tried the Borno house axis, it was also blocked. As a senator of the federal republic, I think I have the right to enter the court premises even if I have no business in the court.”

“I want to plead with the authorities that this should not happen again. We live in a democratic entity called Nigeria, we are not in a war-torn country and everybody that is accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty” Uba insisted.

The lawmaker posited that security agents, particularly the Department of State Services, (DSS) should devise better strategies to ensure the smooth trial of leader of Nnamdi Kanu.

“I am pleading that there should be sanity in the way and manner we go about this case” Uba maintained.

He added that it was unfair for the security agents to prohibit Kanu’s kinsmen as well as lawyers from gaining entrance into the court.

“This is about giving him justice and showing that there is Justice in his trial. The issue is not whether or not Kanu is brought to court but giving him justice.”

The National Assembly member had on Monday October 18, approached a Federal High Court Abuja, seeking an order to be allowed to visit detained leader of indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in custody.

The motion was brought pursuant to section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court as preserved vide section 6(6)(b) of the said Constitution.

In a motion on notice dated October 15, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2021, the plaintiff (Uba) is praying for an court granting him leave to visit the Defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, in DSS custody, as part of his oversight legislative function.

“An order of this Honourable court directing the Complainant and/or the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow the said Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Uba access to their detention facility for purposes of visiting the Defendant, Nnamdi Kanu”. (Daily Independent)