The family of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has demanded the removal of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from the coverage of Court’s proceedings in the ongoing terrorism trial involving their son.
The family pointedly accused NAN of biased coverage, stressing that the Agency has become the “megaphone” of the Department of State Services (DSS) in its reportage of court proceedings.
A statement by Prince Emmanuel Kanu for the family, specifically condemned NAN’s reporting of the case, stressing that justice demands open, and unbiased reporting.
The statement noted that NAN deliberately ignored key defence arguments while amplifying the prosecution’s narrative.
They therefore called on the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho to bar NAN from the coverage of future sessions of the Court relating to the alleged treason trial of Nnamdi Kanu.
The family said that in the alternative, the Court should permit live streaming of the trial to promote transparency and fairness.
According to the statement; “NAN’s reporting has consistently failed to reflect critical moments in court that undermine the government’s case”.
The family particularly noted that during the cross-examination of a Prosecution Witness who could not produce an investigative report to back up the charges, NAN would deliberately leave out such important part.
The statement also noted the media narratives surrounding the lead lawyer of Nnamdi Kanu, Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN, whom the family stressed was wrongly portrayed as being denied access to the defendant.
The family praised Agabi for what they described as a moment of “statesmanship,” saying that he chose restraint to avoid embarrassing the Court.
As proceedings continue, all eyes remain on the court to navigate not just the complex legal terrain, but also the growing public scrutiny surrounding the case and its broader implications for the nation’s justice system.
