The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu will on March 21 appear before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja in continuation of his terrorism case.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reported on Wednesday, that Justice Omotosho fixed the date after the case file was transferred to him.
Recall that Kanu, who was brought back to Nigeria in June 2021 from Kenya and he has been facing terrorism charges. However, Kanu accused the presiding judge, Nyako of bias and asked that she recuse herself from the case.
On March 21, Kanu is expected to take his plea as the case begins afresh (de novo).
NAN reports that the Chief Judge of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, had, in a letter dated March 4 and addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, communicated the re-assignment of the case from Justice Binta Nyako to Justice Omotosho.
The re-assignment followed the demand by Kanu and his team of lawyers for the transfer of the seven-count terrorism charge to another judge, after alleging bias.
Justice Nyako, on Sept. 24, 2024, recused (withdrew) herself from the case and sent the case file to the CJ of FHC for re-assignment.
The judge stated that she could not proceed with a trial where a defendant lacked confidence in the court.
However, in dramatic turn, the Chief Justice sent Kanu’s case file back to Justice Nyako for adjudication. This is as CJ insisted that a formal application must be made by the defence before the recusal could be accepted.
On February 10, Kanu through his lawyer, EJIMAKOR insisted that Justice Nyako no longer had jurisdiction to preside over the case after her recusal (withdrawal) from the matter. A development that prompted the judge to adjourned the case indefinitely (sine die).
NAN reports that Justice Ahmed Mohammed (who has been elevated to Appeal Court) and Justice Tsoho (before becoming the CJ) had presided over Kanu’s trial before it was assigned to Justice Nyako, following the defendant’s rejection of the two judges.