In a continued standoff with the legal rights of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Department of State Services (DSS) blocked him from meeting his legal team once again on Friday. This action was shared by Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

Ejimakor stated that the DSS’s refusal to allow Kanu access to his lawyers violates a standing court order. The court had previously ruled that Kanu has the right to meet with his legal team, yet the DSS continues to disregard this directive. This ongoing conflict has sparked renewed efforts by Kanu’s legal team to hold the DSS accountable.

Ejimakor wrote, “Today, in clear and continuing defiance of a court order, the DSS barred Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team from meeting with him.” He emphasized that they are now resuming all previously suspended legal actions to enforce the court’s decision.

This incident marks a continuation of the DSS’s restrictions on Kanu’s legal access. In October, the DSS had similarly denied Kanu access to his lawyers. Since his rearrest in 2021 and alleged extraordinary rendition, Kanu has been held by the DSS. The Abuja Federal High Court recently warned the DSS’s Director General, Adeola Ajayi, of possible imprisonment if the court’s instructions continue to be ignored.

This renewed legal battle between Kanu’s team and the DSS reflects the broader struggle over respecting court rulings and safeguarding legal rights in Nigeria. Kanu’s team has vowed to press on with stronger legal efforts to ensure compliance with court directives.