Two foreigners who were reported to be Americans were arrested by the Nigerian Secret Service, DSS, while staying at Treasure Suites, a hotel located adjacent the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, for allegedly photographing the court from their hotel balcony.
DSS operatives and police officers reportedly took the foreigners and thought to be Americans by police officials on the site, away in a white Toyota Hilux vehicle.
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“They even entered the hotel and got the manager to show them their CCTV footage to be able to locate one of the men and seized his phone,” Peoples Gazette, which reported this, quoted a Police source at the scene.
Outside the hotel, a lady thought to be the manager was seen pleading with SSS officers not to drive the foreigners away. Her cries went unheard.
Another police officer informed The Gazette that the Americans would just be questioned and requested to remove the footage, rather than being tortured.
“They will not do anything to them, they will only ask them to write statements and delete the footage they took,” the officer said under anonymity to avoid being sanctioned for offering comments to the media.
Only a small group of pro-government media outlets would be permitted entry to the court today, according to one of the SSS officers stationed at the court’s entrance. While The Gazette and other media outlets deemed critical of the Buhari administration would be barred.
“Anything you do, you cannot enter this courtroom today,” the officer said. He declined to identify himself.
The SSS’s spokesman did not respond to The Gazette’s requests for comment on the arrests.
Ten media outlets were allegedly accredited to cover today’s proceedings in Mr Kanu’s trial, according to a contentious list distributed on Sunday night. The Gazette was not included on the list and did not ask to be. All media organizations in Nigeria are allowed to cover court proceedings under Nigerian law.
The case of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, who was controversially seized by Nigerian operatives and deported to Nigeria from Kenya on June 29 has been deferred until today, Monday, July 26, 2021.
The court has been heavily guided by SSS officials as part of an active move to restrict lawyers, journalists, and other court observers access to the premises for the procedure. Two key routes leading to the federal courthouse were sealed down by the officers.
After Mr Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, encouraged supporters of the separatist leader to appear at the trial without fear, the measures became more severe.
“It is important to state that, anybody who wishes to come is not doing anything illegal, provided such a person comes in peace. Kanu’s trial is an open trial, not a secret trial, and he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Mr Ejimakor said.
