SSS bars journalists from covering arraignment of Boko Haram suspects

JOURNALISTS were, on Thursday, barred by security agents  from covering the scheduled arraignment of 17 suspected members of Boko Haram sect before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Press men that were in court to cover the proceeding were humiliated while some were threatened by officers of the  State Security Service (SSS), that escorted the suspected Boko Haram members to court.

Journalists that were already in the courtroom were sent out by armed security operatives that threatened to arrest anyone who resisted the matching order. 

 Apart from the journalists, other litigants who also have matters at the court were equally barred from entering the courtroom and when the Boko Haram case was called, some lawyers were implored to leave the court due to the small size of the court room.

 It was gathered from the security agents that they received orders from the Presidency not to allow the media to cover the proceedings.

All persons who were not on robe and wig were ordered out of the 20-seat capacity courtroom by the security agents even before the arrival of the judge and journalists were told by an official of the State Security Service that “it was an order from the Presidency not to allow the press to cover this case.”

One of the armed SSS men threatened to handcuff and lock up the journalists, who had earlier resisted him.

However, the arraignment  stalled because five of the 17 accused persons had not briefed lawyers to take their defence.

The suspects were scheduled to be arraigned on an eight - count charge bordering on acts of terrorism and being in possession of prohibited explosive substances, firearms and ammunition.
Tribune