Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following Kanu’s insistence that she should not preside over his case. The IPOB leader had previously raised objections to Justice Nyako, citing her earlier recusal and questioning her impartiality. Kanu has been embroiled in legal battles related to charges of treasonable felony, and his case has attracted significant attention both locally and internationally.
Earlier this year, in January, Kanu filed a petition against Justice Nyako, accusing her of judicial misconduct in handling his trial. He called for her to be replaced and requested that his case be transferred to a judge outside of Abuja, specifically in the South-East region, where he believed he could receive a fairer trial. Kanu has also stated that if no other judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja is willing to take on the case apart from Nyako, his legal team would prefer it to be moved to a different jurisdiction.
The trial was originally scheduled to continue on Monday, February 10, 2025, but following these developments, the hearing has been adjourned indefinitely. The legal community and the public are awaiting further details regarding the next steps in the case. The matter has raised questions about judicial conduct, the legal rights of Kanu, and the broader political implications of his trial.
