Some lawyers have been denied access into the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will be held on Monday.

In a live BBC Pidgin video monitored by FIJ, one of the lawyers condemned the move, saying it was an open court to which every Nigerian lawyer should have unrestricted access.

“A lawyer doesn’t need to show ID card or anything to show that he’s a lawyer,” he said. “It’s an open court. It’s like when you want to go to your shop at Wuse market then someone asks you, ‘Can I see evidence that you own the shop before you can enter?’”

Kanu had fled Nigeria after the invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, Abia State, by military officers in September 2017, stalling his ongoing trial over 11 count charge bordering on illegal possession of firearms, treasonable felony, terrorism, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter and improper importation of goods, among others.

However, he was arrested by security operatives in Kenya last month and extradited to Nigeria so the trial might continue.