The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has called for a new judge to handle his case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, following Justice Binta Nyako’s withdrawal from the case.
Kanu, who has been standing trial on charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony since 2015, alternatively called for his case to be transferred to the south-east if no judge within Abuja apart from Justice Binta Nyako is willing to preside over it.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed his client’s request on Thursday after a meeting with the IPOB leader at the Department of State Services facility in Abuja.
Justice Nyako had, on September 24, 2024, recused herself from handling Kanu’s case after the IPOB leader expressed a lack of confidence in her ability to handle the trial fairly.
Following the development, the case was returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment, but he returned it to Justice Nyako for continuation.
Kanu has openly expressed a lack of trust in Justice Nyako and directed his legal team to ensure she does not preside over the case again.
Ejimakor said Kanu suggested that his trial be moved to the southeast, where the alleged offences were said to have been committed.
“The routine visitation to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu continues unabated, as the legal team just concluded a crucial visitation today.
“The central issue arising at today’s visitation is the upcoming court date for the continuation of MNK’s case.
“Due to its constitutional implications, Onyendu instructed the legal team to take certain prompt steps to ensure that his case is not handled by the same Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who had withdrawn from the case by virtue of the order of recusal entered on 24th September 2024.
“The point was stressed that should the case still lie with Justice Murtala-Nyako, it would mean that the same court is disobeying an order that it made.”
Kanu’s legal team emphasized the importance of assigning a new judge to the case and suggested that, if necessary, the trial be moved to any Federal High Court within the Southeast, where the alleged offences were said to have occurred.
“If no other judge in Abuja is willing to handle the case, the Chief Judge is free to transfer the case to Umuahia, Awka, Enugu, Asaba, Port Harcourt, or any other Federal High Court within the former Eastern Nigeria, where the alleged offences were said to have occurred or had their impact,” read his the statement.
