The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has applied for the transfer of his trial to the Southeast, Nigeria.
This is even as the embattled IPOB leader has called for a new judge to handle his case at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The call is coming on the heels of Justice Binta Nyako’s withdrawal from the case.
Recall that Kanu has been standing trial on charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony since 2015.
However, following the lingering of the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Kanu has called for his case to be transferred to the south-east. This, he said, is if no judge within Abuja apart from Justice Binta Nyako is willing to preside over the case.
This was disclosed by the lead counsel to Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, on Thursday after a meeting with the IPOB leader at the Department of State Services facility in Abuja.
Recall that on September 24, 2024, Justice Nyako recused herself from handling Kanu’s case. This was after the IPOB leader expressed a lack of confidence in her ability to handle the trial fairly.
The case was returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment. Justice Tsoho, however, returned the file to Justice Nyako for continuation.
Kanu has openly and continually expressed a lack of trust in Justice Nyako in dispensing justice in the case. He, therefore, directed his legal team to ensure she does not preside over the case again.
Following the development, Ejimakor stated that Kanu has suggested his trial be moved to the Southeast. Where the alleged offences were said to have been committed.
In a statement by Ejimakor, he said, “The routine visitation to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu continues unabated. As the legal team just concluded a crucial visitation today.
“The central issue arising at 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 certain prompt steps. And to ensure that his case is not handled by the same Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako. Who had withdrawn from the case by virtue of the order of recusal entered on 24th September 2024.
“The point was stressed that should the case still lie with Justice Murtala-Nyako, it would mean that the same court is disobeying an order that it made.”
Kanu’s legal team emphasized the importance of assigning a new judge to the case. They, therefore, suggested that, if necessary, the trial be moved to any Federal High Court within the Southeast region. Where the alleged offences were said to have occurred.
“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. Where the alleged offences were said to have occurred or had their impact,” the statement concluded.
source: The Whistler
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