Several Ipob members clad in Jewish garb and chanting Biafra songs arrested at Nnamdi Kanu's trial

SEVERAL members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) clad in Jewish attire have been arrested outside the federal high court in Abuja where they went to attend the ongoing trial of the their leader Nnamdi Kanu.

This morning, Mr Kanu is due to appear in court to face treason charges after he was abducted in Kenya last month and flown back to Nigeria. Mr Kanu jumped bail in 2017 and fled the country but following his arrest and deportation, his trial has resumed before Justice Binta Nyako of the federal high court Abuja.

Early this morning, hundreds of Ipob members flooded the court dressed in Jewish garb, chanting Biafran songs as they awaited their leader. However, there was commotion at the court as the police tried to disperse members of the group and in the scuffle that followed, several arrests were made.

Ahead of the commencement of the trial, an army of security operatives have taken over the court premises, with heavily-armed and hooded State Security Services operatives and the Nigeria Police Force cordoning off adjoining streets. These fierce-looking operatives turned commuters and passersby away from the streets adjoining the court.

In the run-up to the trial, Nigeria's attorney-general Abubakar Malami had warned Ipob members not to attend the court hearing. He said Mr Kanu’s lawyers will be allowed into the court premises but added that branded Ipob T-shirts or caps will not be permitted.

However, in response to Mr Malami’s statement, Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful, said that members of the group have every right to be in court. He added that Ipob members will be peaceful and orderly when they arrive at the court.