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General News of Monday, 26 July 2021

Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com

AI condemns selection of 10 media organisations to cover Nnamdi Kanu's trial

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International Human Rights Group, Amnesty International (AI) has condemned the Federal Government's selection of only 10 media organizations to cover the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The federal high court in Abuja, in a letter dated July 23, said only a few listed journalists will be allowed to enter the court premises for the trial today, and listed 10 media organizations.

Journalists whose names were not on the prepared list were not allowed near the court premises on Monday.

Amnesty International took to Twitter on Monday, July 26 to condemn the decision.

“Amnesty International condemns Nigerian authorities’ restriction of the number of journalists that can report the trial of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, which started today in Abuja.

“Selecting few journalists to cover the trial is a restriction on access to information and an attempt to deny people the right to know. It also violates all fair hearing guarantees.

“We call on the Nigerian authorities to respect the right to a fair hearing and immediately lift the restriction and allow the media unhindered access to the court to do their job. This is yet another bizarre and unacceptable attack on the Nigerian media that must not stand,” the statement reads.

In June, Kanu was arrested and extradited to Nigeria to face trial after jumping bail in 2017.

The IPOB leader is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony brought against him by the federal government for his campaign for a “Republic of Biafra”.

The trial has now been postponed by the court after the Department of State Services(DSS) failed to provide him at court for a hearing today.