The Department of State Security (DSS) has finally granted access to Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team after a prolonged legal standoff.
According to reports, the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, has authorized visits from Kanu’s lawyers to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Kanu, who has been held in custody on terrorism-related charges since his controversial extradition from Kenya in June 2021, has faced restricted access to legal counsel.
This prompted numerous legal challenges and protests from his defence team.
Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s special counsel, has consistently accused the DSS of obstructing their access, despite a court order from Justice Binta Nyako in May 2023, which mandated that the DSS allow visits three times a week.
After repeated refusals, the court issued a summons to DSS Director-General Ajayi in October, warning him of potential legal consequences, including jail time, if the access restrictions were not lifted.
The decision to permit legal visits comes after a recent intervention by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Abia State Representative Obi Aguocha, who met with Kanu in detention.
The meeting reportedly led to a “political compromise,” according to Ejimakor, helping to resolve the long-standing access dispute.
On Monday, Ejimakor announced via social media that the legal team’s visit was the first successful meeting with Kanu since September 27.
He was accompanied by Ndidi Awurum, a U.S.-based Nigerian, with the visit conducted under the direct authorization of the DSS director-general.
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