The family of Biafra separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has called for the immediate ban of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from covering his ongoing terrorism trial, accusing the agency of biased and misleading reporting.
Alternatively, the family urged the court to permit live streaming of the proceedings to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.
In a statement signed by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the family expressed “deep concern and outrage” over what it described as NAN’s “continuous and shameless manipulation of court proceedings” in the trial of their son and brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“It is now beyond question that NAN has abandoned any pretense of professional journalism,” the statement read. “They have become the unofficial mouthpiece of the State Security Services (SSS) and the prosecution, spreading one-sided propaganda while deliberately omitting crucial courtroom revelations that undermine the government’s case.”
The family cited the latest example of alleged bias, claiming that NAN ignored the “damning cross-examination” of a prosecution witness (PW-BBB), who reportedly admitted that no investigation report exists to support the charges against Kanu. Instead, NAN reportedly focused its coverage on a “meaningless” death certificate, which the family said had no evidentiary value and was a diversionary tactic.
“It is unacceptable and improper for NAN to retain exclusive access to report on court proceedings, especially when their reports mislead the public and undermine judicial transparency,” the statement added.
The family called on Justice James Omotosho to ban NAN from further access to the courtroom, citing “repeated unethical conduct and biased reporting.”
“In the alternative, the court should allow live streaming of the trial to restore public confidence and ensure open justice,” they said.
They also refuted claims that the Department of State Services (DSS) denied senior lawyer and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi SAN, access to Kanu. According to the family, Agabi’s decision not to confront the DSS in open court was an act of restraint and statesmanship, which should not be distorted by what they called “a discredited press agency.”
“This trial is not just about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—it is a test of the Nigerian judiciary’s integrity, the independence of the media, and the rule of law. Continued distortion of proceedings only deepens national divisions and erodes public trust,” the statement said.
