Court Warns Kanu’s Lawyers Over Online Misconduct, FG Rejects Live Broadcast Request

The government, through its counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, objected to a request made by Kanu’s family for live coverage of the proceedings.

At the resumption of the trial on Wednesday, Kanu’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, brought to the court’s attention a letter written by Awomolo.

In the letter dated May 14, 2025, the Federal Government’s lawyer recommended that the use of mobile phones be banned from the courtroom going forward.

The senior advocate expressed concern over the actions of Aloy Ejimakor, a member of Kanu’s legal team, accusing him of consistently posting misleading and inappropriate information on social media regarding the ongoing trial.

Awomolo described ...s as “misleading, embarrassing, and unpleasant commentaries,” warning that the trial should not be trivialized by any party involved.

In one such post on his Facebook page, Ejimakor was reported to have called on ‘Biafrans’ to rise against the perceived persecution of Nnamdi Kanu.

In response, Agabi condemned Ejimakor’s actions and offered an unreserved apology, assuring the court that such conduct would not recur.

Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the case, expressed displeasure at what he described as unprofessional conduct by members of Kanu’s legal team. He described Ejimakor and others engaging in such actions as “content creators” who appear to have no interest in concluding the trial, driven by selfish motives.

The judge admonished all parties, particularly those using social media to prosecute the case, to act professionally or risk facing disciplinary actions.

He specifically warned Aloy Ejimakor to desist from conduct that could lead to disbarment, stating,

“Ejimakor even had the audacity to post the approved list of counsel for Nnamdi Kanu on his Facebook page.”

Justice Omotosho further urged all parties to avoid acts amounting to misconduct and to be cautious about their social media activities.

He reiterated that he granted accelerated hearing in the case out of fairness, especially considering that Kanu has been in custody for an extended period.

The trial continued with the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness 2 (PW2)—a DSS operative codenamed BBB—by Paul Erokoro, SAN, who led proceedings for the defence.

When asked whether the Department of State Services (DSS) could be influenced by politicians or ministers, NAIJAONPOINT clarified that the agency operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and that the Attorney General does not control DSS operations.

Regarding intelligence-gathering methods, NAIJAONPOINT explained that the DSS relies on multiple sources, including human intelligence and social media.

He further stated that DSS operatives are trained to obtain necessary information efficiently and discreetly.