A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), sine die [indefinitely].
Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the suit on Monday following Kanu’s insistence that she could not preside over his case since she had recused herself.
Nyako recused herself from the trial on September 24, 2024, after an oral application by the defence.
The case file was transferred to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.
However, Tsoho sent Kanu’s case file back to Justice Nyako for adjudication, insisting that a formal application must be made by the defence before the recusal could be accepted.
Kanu asked that the case be transferred to the South-East where the allegations against him were said to have been committed if no judge in Abuja was willing to take his case.
The IPoB leader’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, briefly explained what transpired in court on Monday in an X post.
“Today’s ‘hearing’ of Onyendu MAZI NNAMDI KANU’s case is concluded. We stood our ground & told the Judge that she no longer possesses jurisdiction over MNK & that we appeared ‘under protest’. Onyendu took the centre stage & spoke eloquently. Case adjourned sine die (indefinitely),” he wrote.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, February 10, 2025, Justice Nyako said the chief judge had not accepted her recusal and had referred the case back to her.
She asked the defence team led by Ejimakor to come up with a written application if they still insisted on the recusal.
Earlier, the Prosecution counsel led by Adegboyega Awomolo [SAN] said they were ready for the commencement of trial as his witnesses were ready.
Addressing the court, Kanu questioned why he was brought before Justice Nyako.
He said all that the judge said was meaningless to him.
He said he did not recognise the authority of the court presided over by Justice Nyako.
The IPoB leader said he was only in court because of the respect he had for the rule of law, adding that the judge had previously recused herself from the case.
Kanu said he was not happy with the decision of the chief judge, who returned the case to Justice Nyako, insisting that the prosecution could not prosecute him.
The IPoB leader insisted that Justice Nyako was biased and should not preside over his case.
He said poor knowledge of the court was affecting Nigeria.
The prosecution counsel took an objection to Kanu’s remarks and asked for a definite date for hearing since the prosecution had refused to file a written application.
Awomolo said it was not right for Kanu to insult the court.
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