Kanu has been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony over his pro-Biafra activities.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – There was drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday as the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, again asked Justice Binta Nyako to withdraw from hia trial.
The request was made through his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, on Monday, February 10, 2025.
Kanu has been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony over his pro-Biafra activities.
This is not the first time Kanu has sought Justice Nyako’s withdrawal from his case. On September 24, 2024, during a court session, he interrupted proceedings to declare that he had lost confidence in the judge and wanted her to step down. Justice Nyako subsequently recused herself.
However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, later reinstated the case before her, ruling that Kanu must file a formal application requesting her withdrawal rather than making an oral plea.
Following this decision, the prosecution, led by Adegboyega Awomolo, wrote to the Deputy Chief Registrar on December 5, 2024, requesting a date for the trial’s commencement. In response, Ejimakor, in a December 9, 2024 letter, insisted that Nyako’s recusal remained valid and suggested that if no judge in Abuja was willing to hear the case, it should be transferred to a court in the South-East.
At Monday’s hearing, Awomolo informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed, with witnesses prepared to testify.
However, Ejimakor reiterated that his client would not stand trial before Justice Nyako.
“The defendant is still asking that your lordship recuse herself from this matter,” he told the court.
Justice Nyako responded by stating that the Chief Judge had not accepted her recusal and had reassigned the case to her. She advised Kanu’s legal team to submit a formal written application if they still insisted on her withdrawal.
She thereafter adjourned hearing on the case indefinitely.