The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has requested that his case be moved to the South-East if no judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja is available to oversee it aside from Justice Binta Nyako.
Kanu’s request was communicated in a statement on Wednesday by his lead attorney, Aloy Ejimakor, following a routine consultation with his legal team at the Department of State Services facility in Abuja.
This latest development arose after Justice Nyako recused herself from Kanu’s case on September 24, 2024, mentioning that the IPOB leader did not have confidence in her managing the trial.
The case was then sent to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, who ultimately returned it to Justice Nyako for further proceedings.
Kanu has persistently argued against Justice Nyako’s participation in the trial, asserting that her return to the case after stepping down compromises the integrity of the judiciary.
In his remarks, Ejimakor revealed that Kanu had instructed his legal team to take measures to block Justice Nyako from overseeing his trial.
“The primary concern discussed during today’s meeting is the forthcoming court date for the continuation of MNK’s case.
“Given its constitutional significance, Onyendu directed the legal team to take certain immediate actions to ensure that his case is not overseen by the same Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who had previously recused herself on 24th September 2024.
“It was emphasized that if the case remains with Justice Murtala-Nyako, it would indicate that the court is disregarding an order it issued.”
Kanu’s legal representatives underscored the necessity of appointing a different judge for the case and proposed that, if needed, the trial could be relocated to any Federal High Court within the Southeast region, where the supposed offenses were claimed to have taken place.
“If no other judge in Abuja is available to take the case, the Chief Judge is welcome to transfer it to Umuahia, Awka, Enugu, Asaba, Port Harcourt, or any Federal High Court within the former Eastern Nigeria, where the alleged offenses occurred or had their effects,” the statement continued.
