Some unidentified persons suspected to be hoodlums have beaten up the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

The former presidential candidate was roughed up having been denied entry into the court premises to observe the trial of embattled Indigenous Peoples of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The Nation reports that Sowore was slapped and punched by the 20 unkempt looking individuals right in from of the security agents who allowed the assault until onlookers raised alarm.

The publication added that the hoodlums left the scene left without being apprehended by the security agents.

Irked by the ignorance of the security operative, the members of the public then chased the hoodlums to apprehend them as the security operatives looked on.

The security operatives were said to have eventually intervened after the situation got rowdy.

Before the incident, Sowore said: “A courtroom is not complete except people are there to witness proceedings. I want to sit right in front of the judge and witness it all.

“They have assured us that Kanu will get justice. He is my friend and I should be here. But the security agencies are still not allowing me in.”