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Kanu Demands Change Of Judge, Rejects Trial Resumption

Published

17 hours ago

Jan 8, 2025.

Nnamdi Kanu rejects trial resumption, demands Justice Nyako’s recusal.
Chief Judge reinstates Nyako despite her earlier decision to withdraw.
Kanu accuses court of violating Supreme Court rulings and constitutional principles.

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has once again stood firm in his demand that Justice Binta Nyako withdraw from his trial. In a bold stance, Kanu has rejected the Federal Government’s push to resume proceedings, citing a deep loss of confidence in the judge.

Speaking through his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu expressed his disapproval of the Federal Government’s request. Ejimakor shared this position on X, emphasizing that Justice Nyako had already recused herself during a court session held on September 24, 2024.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that at that hearing, Kanu personally addressed the court, stating, “My Lord, I have no confidence in this court anymore. I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.”

Justice Nyako, in response, agreed to step aside, forwarding the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

However, in a surprising twist, the Chief Judge returned the case to Justice Nyako. His reasoning? Justice Nyako’s long-standing familiarity with the case, which dates back to 2015, made her the most suitable judge to conclude the trial. He instructed Kanu to file a formal motion with supporting documents if he wanted to press for her removal.

Despite this, the Federal Government’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), sent a letter on December 5, 2024, requesting a fresh trial date. Awomolo argued that the Chief Judge’s directive reinstated Justice Nyako as the presiding judge.

Ejimakor, however, fiercely countered this claim. In a strongly worded letter, he maintained that Justice Nyako’s recusal was final and binding, noting that no competent court had overturned it. “As of September 24, 2024, the defendant no longer has any case to answer before Justice Nyako,” he stated.

The case against Kanu, which began in 2015, has been riddled with controversies. Arrested upon his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, Kanu was granted bail in 2017 on health grounds but fled the country after a military raid on his home.

In 2021, he was re-arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria under contentious circumstances. Since then, Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), with multiple bail requests denied by Justice Nyako.

In court, Kanu’s frustration has been palpable. During the September 24 proceedings, he waved a document he claimed was the Supreme Court’s judgment. Reading aloud, he insisted the trial court’s actions had cast doubt on the judge’s impartiality.

“This is not personal,” Kanu said, addressing the judge directly. “But this trial is no longer in line with the Constitution.”

Justice Nyako eventually declared, “I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge.”

Kanu Judge Trial Resumption

The Federal Government’s insistence on resuming the trial has deepened tensions between the parties. Kanu remains resolute, while his legal team continues to challenge every move by the prosecution.

As the case drags on, questions about justice, impartiality, and the rule of law loom large. For now, the trial remains in limbo, with no clear resolution in sight.