The trial of former Governor of Niger state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) began in Minna, on Tuesday, under a heavy security as protesters stormed the court in solidarity with their former governor.

The former governor, who was picked up by the anti-graft agents from his Abuja home, three weeks ago, arrived at the Minna High Court 11, presided over by Justice Aliyu Mohammed Maiyaki at exactly 8:40a.m in a black Toyota land cruiser jeep with registration No NPF 6914C.

Aliyu was in company of his former chief of staff, Umar Nasko, who is also facing trail.

However, hundreds of pro-Babangida Aliyu supporters, who thronged the court to show their solidarity over the travail of their former governor, were prevented from gaining access to the court premises by the over 150 heavily armed security agents.

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The protesters, however, defied the scorching sun of Minna as they gathered few meters away from the court premises, chanting pro Babangida Aliyu song.

The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions some of which reads, “Talba we trust, “Talba we know”, “EFCC is a political dog”, “free Talba, there are more thieves in APC than PDP” “there is no change”.

Some of the protesters who spoke to our correspondent said the trial of the former governor is purely political, saying that “there are even more thieves in APC than PDP”.

They questioned the decision of the anti graft agency to arrest the former governor years after he left, describing it as a political witch-hunting by the APC led government.