Journalists covering the arraignment of 17 alleged members of the Boko Haram sect before the Federal High Court in Lagos were yesterday barred from performing their duties by men of the department of State Security Service (DSSS) allegedly on the orders of the federal government.
The journalists, who were already seated in the court room before the arrival of the security agents were forceful sent out of the court room shortly before the trial judge, Justice Musa H. Kurya came out of his chambers.
At a stage when the newsmen refused to leave, one of the armed security men threatened to arrest the journalists if they continue to resist his matching order.
A senior officer, who spoke to journalists on the development, said the directive to stop the journalists from covering the arraignment of the suspected Boko Haram members was from the presidency.
Apart from the journalists, other litigants, who also have matters before the court were equally barred from entering the court room.
Also when the case was called, some lawyers were told to leave the court room, it was, however, gathered that this was due to the small size of the court room.
In spite of the drama, the planned arraignment of the suspected Boko Haram members which had suffered two adjournments on October 2 and 9, due to lack of an interpreter and the absence of the trial judge respectively, could not go on.

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