Monday- 26th July, 2021: Civil society organisation, Amnesty International, has condemned Nigerian authorities for placing a restriction on the number of journalists that can report the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Federal High Court in Abuja where Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony had accredited only 10 media houses to cover the trial.
Reacting, Amnesty International, on its official Twitter handle on Monday, said the move is a restriction on access to information, adding that it also violates fair hearing.
“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 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.”
