The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has demanded that his trial be transferred to a Federal High Court in the South-East or assigned to a new judge if no other judge in Abuja is willing to preside over the case besides Justice Binta Nyako.
Kanu’s demand was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday, January 22, by his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, following a routine meeting at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja.
The move comes after Justice Nyako recused herself from the case on September 24, 2024, citing Kanu’s lack of confidence in her handling of the trial.
However, the case was later reassigned to her by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, sparking opposition from Kanu.
According to Ejimakor, “Kanu views Justice Nyako’s resumption of the trial as undermining judicial integrity. He has instructed his legal team to ensure she does not preside over the case.
“The central issue arising at today’s visitation is the upcoming court date for the continuation of MNK’s case.
“Onyendu has instructed the legal team to take prompt steps to ensure that his case is not handled by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who had withdrawn from the case by virtue of the order of recusal entered on 24th September 2024,” Ejimakor stated.
Kanu’s legal team also called for the trial to be moved to a court in the South-East, arguing that the alleged offences occurred in the region.
“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,” the statement added.