In a petition dated October 20, 2025, and addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Oyeghe, who is the Principal Partner of S. M. Oyeghe Legal (Gifted Hands Attorneys), decried what he described as repeated restriction and “demeaning” treatment of persons accessing the court premises whenever Kanu’s case is slated for hearing.
Oyeghe stressed that the criminal trial of Nnamdi Kanu should not disrupt the operations of other courts or deprive other litigants and lawyers of their constitutional right to access justice.
A human rights lawyer, Dr. Seprebofa Oyeghe, has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, alleging consistent harassment, intimidation, and denial of access to lawyers, litigants, court staff, and even judges by personnel of the State Security Service (SSS) during the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
“We wish to bring to your attention the repeated restriction/denial of access to the court, harassment of lawyers, litigants, defendants in criminal trials, court staff etc., by personnel of the State Security Service (SSS) whenever the criminal trial of Nnamdi Kanu is scheduled to come up,” he said.
According to the petition, the SSS, also known as the Department of State Services (DSS), routinely mounts excessive security presence around the court, allegedly subjecting lawyers, litigants, defendants in other criminal matters, and court staff to harassment and intimidation.
“When the SSS displays their rascality, high- handedness and shenanigans around the Court premises, even the judges are not spared,” Oyeghe wrote.
He noted that access to the court, a fundamental right for all Nigerians seeking justice, is often denied, with lawyers and litigants being forced to identify themselves, disclose their cases, or being subjected to questioning by armed security operatives before entry.
Oyeghe stressed that the criminal trial of Nnamdi Kanu should not disrupt the operations of other courts or deprive other litigants and lawyers of their constitutional right to access justice.
“Needless to say that every lawyer, litigant, defendant, etc., who accesses the Court has a purpose or task, and the case of Nnamdi Kanu is not superior to the cases of other litigants to warrant denying lawyers from accessing the Court to conduct matters pending before other judges,” he stated.
He added that the overbearing conduct of the SSS personnel on such days has, on several occasions, deterred judges from sitting, further compounding delays in the administration of justice.
The activist-lawyer condemned what he called the “demeaning, utterly reprehensible, and inglorious spectacle” that characterises the security agency’s handling of court security during Kanu’s trial, describing it as “infra dignitatem” (beneath the dignity) of the legal profession.
While acknowledging the need for heightened security when high-profile defendants are in court, Oyeghe maintained that such security must not translate into the domination or “capture” of the court premises by the SSS.
According to him, “there is a difference between ensuring security of the general area and the SSS manifesting acts of domination and ‘capture’ of the sacred hallways of court and conduct which is infra dignitatem the legal profession”.
Oyeghe called on the Chief Judge to urgently intervene and issue directives to restore sanity and decorum during Kanu’s upcoming court sessions, which he said are scheduled for October 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30.
He expressed concern that the SSS “rascality” could again resurface in full glare on those dates if not checked, with the court police and security officers taking a “back seat.”
The petition was also copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Oyeghe concluded by urging the judiciary to “rise to one of its sacred duties of proactively ensuring enhanced access to justice for all classes of litigants,” emphasising that no arm of government should be allowed to erode the sanctity of the courts.
