Justice Nyako has withdrawn herself from handling Nnamdi Kanu’s trial
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Binta Nyako, a federal high court judge, has withdrawn herself from presiding over the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This means the judge is excusing herself from the case because of a potential conflict of interest or a perception of bias.
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At the resumed court session on Tuesday, Kanu directly told Nyako that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial.
He spoke out at the open court while asking herself to recuse herself from his trial.
Justice Binta Nyako then replied that she would be happy to recuse herself from the trial, and had no problem with his request.
She said she would be sending the case file back to the chief judge for reassignment and further necessary actions.
Kanu then vehemently ordered his counsel, Alloy Ejimakor to sit down while he stood up from the dock to address Justice Nyako.
He based his remarks on the Supreme Court’s decision which questioned the jurisdiction of where the alleged broadcast that the federal court is charging him on was made.
He also read a part of the judgment of the Supreme Court, where alleged bias against Justice Nyako was raised.
The counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, had earlier told the court that he was ready for the commencement of trial, but that it could not hold under the present circumstance.
Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 by the Federal Government and brought to the country for trial on terrorism charges.
Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Nyako declined to admit him to bail on the ground that he jumped the earlier one in which Senator Abaribe was his surety.
Kanu has since been in the custody of the Department of State Services on the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
