COUNSEL to detained leader of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, Mr. Femi Falana, has berated the Federal Government over what he described as “barbaric trial of a civilian under civil rule in camera.”
This is as the Federal Government, yesterday failed to arraign Okah, before the Federal High Court, Jos, as earlier scheduled.
Falana, who stormed Jos, the capital of Plateau state for the trial spoke with journalists at the road junction leading to the court, where the trial was to take place and was temporarily disallowed entry into the premises by security men.
Before he was eventually allowed to enter with another lawyer and his two witnesses, he said it was funny because while military coupists are tried in the open, a civilian is being made to face trial in camera, especially when the offence in question has been made public by government.
“Government have called my client�s offences names such as gun-running, treasonable felony, trafficking in arms” he said, querying what is secretive about this now that the trial of someone, whose offence is well known is facing trial in camera.
Falana insisted that as far as he was concerned, no clear charge has been made against Okah and despite a court order obtained for injunction against the trial, his client is been kept incommunicado.
Meanwhile, the city of Jos, witnessed heavy security presence as a result of the commencement of Okah�s trial.
The MEND leader was recently repatriated from Angola over allegation of gun-running and is being arraigned for treasonable felony.
As early as 8 am, the entry point leading into the court and adjourning streets were barricaded by armed mobile and regular policemen who turned back motorists and passers-by.
Journalists who were part of the proceedings were disappointed as the stern looking security operatives threatened to “deal with whoever crosses our path.”
Daily Champion further observed that the court was surrounded with sophisticated military equipments, including armoured personnel carriers, even as some houses under repairs were taken over by policemen who took strategic positions to wade off unwanted visitors.
Also, no MEND member was sighted around the court premises.
The entire Central Bank area and the Court of Appeal roads were sealed up, as the policemen shouted at virtually any vehicle that took the popular roads that leads in and out of the capital city of Jos. Special police personnel were the only ones allowed near the court premises and they were identified with a hand band of yellow stripe with WLD inscribed on the band on their left hand side.
The two witnesses with Falana are the wives of Okah and Ateke Tom, all chieftains of MEND.