The detained leader of the Indigenous People of People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has demanded that his case be transferred to the Southeast if no other judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it, apart from Justice Binta Nyako.
Kanu’s request was made known by his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimannakor, after a routine meeting with his legal team at the Department of State Services facility in Abuja on Wednesday.
This development comes after Justice Nyako recused herself from handling Kanu’s case on September 24, 2024, citing Kanu’s lack of confidence in her handling of the trial.
However, the case was referred back to Justice Nyako by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John T. Kanyo, for continuation. Kanu has consistently opposed Justice Nyako’s involvement in the trial, insisting that her resumption of the case after recusing herself undermines judicial integrity.
In a statement, Ejimannakor disclosed that Kanu instructed his legal team to prevent Justice Nyako from presiding over his trial. The statement read: “The routine visitation to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu continues unabated, as the legal team just concluded a crucial visitation today.”
“The central issue arising from 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the legal team to take prompt steps to ensure that his case is not handled by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who had withdrawn from the case.”
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.
“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,” the statement added.
