The Online Media Reporters Association of Nigeria has called on its members to disregard the news circulating in some Section of the Media that the Federal High Court of Nigeria has restricted the media from covering the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) slated for Monday, July 26th.
In a press release on Sunday signed by its Chairman, Adewole Kehinde, he said that the Department of State Services (DSS) and not the Federal High Court of Nigeria, accredited only ten media organizations for the coverage.
“The Chief Information Officer of the Federal High Court of Nigeria only acted on the media list forwarded to her office by the DSS, Adewole said.
There are over 70 Journalists covering the Federal High Court of Nigeria but the Department of State Services decided to even select Eight while the Chief Information Officer of the Court had to lobby in making it Ten.
Those accredited include Daily Post, Premium Times, Thisday, The Nation, The Herald, and Daily Independent newspapers while the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is leading the broadcast side.
Other broadcast media are Channels Television, Africa Independent Television, and TVC.
“We believe it was an instruction given in order to observe the COVID 19 protocol by the court, the statement concluded.
Kanu, who was re-arrested in faraway Kenya, will be facing charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, illegal possession of arms, among others, before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
