It was fireworks today at Abuja Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Shuaibu Usman as Vincent Obetta, chief counsel to Prince Nnamdi Kanu, stormed the court with 18 other lawyers in a bid to secure freedom for the detained Director of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

A mammoth crowd of Kanu’s supporters had thronged the court and went into a frenzy as their hero was seen in public for the first time since October 18 whne he was arrested in his Lagos hotel room by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who had been ordered to produce Mr. Kanu unfailingly before the court today.

Prosecution counsel, Mr. Moses Idakwo, filed an application seeking to discontinue the trial on the grounds that the DSS has new facts warranting the investigation of Kanu for alleged terrorism and terrorism financing.

Kanu’s lawyers, however, opposed the application, saying that before it could be granted, DSS must first obey the court’s earlier order to release Kanu, having met his bail conditions.

After listening to both parties, Chief Magistrate Shuaibu Usman adjourned the mater to December 1 for a ruling on the DSS application.

The crowd of supporters went into a frenzy as Kanu stepped out of the court, insisting that he must address them. The DSS operatives, however, managed to spirit him into their vehicle and zoom away.

Prince Kanu is standing trial for alleged criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to sections 97 and 397 of the penal code.

•Photo Nnamdi Kanu.