10th February 2025, NewsOrient, News, Law And Society. Photo Credit: Channels Television

The Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Binta Nyako has adjourned, indefinitely, the trial of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism charges.

The indefinite adjournment today, Monday, followed Kanu’s insistence that the judge, Justice Binta Nyako, who earlier recused self from the matter, can no longer preside over the same case.

At the court today, Kanu again questioned the jurisdiction of the Judge to hear the case on his alleged terrorism offences.

It would be recalled that when this matter came up much earlier, before Justice Binta Nyako, Kanu directly told the learned judge that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial.

Following Kanu’s pledge of lack of confidence that she would be fair in the adjudication of the matter, Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from handling the matter.

But on hearing what happened, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, reverted the file to Nyako on the ground that “Kanu’s application must be brought formally before the court through a motion on notice.”

So, at the resumed hearing today, Monday, February 10, 2025, Justice Nyako explained that the Chief Judge did not accept her recusal and had referred the case back to her.

She proceeded to ask the defence team, led by Ejimakor to “come up with a written application” if they still insist on the recusal.

Earlier, the Prosecution counsel led by Adegboyega Awomolo, said they were ready for the commencement of trial as his witnesses were ready.

But the defence maintained it’s stand that Justice Binta Nyako’s recusal from the matter remains valid.

Addressing the court, the defendant, Kanu, questioned why he was brought before Justice Nyako again?

He said Justice Binta Nyako has earlier recused herself from the matter and do, that his presence in her court for the same matter was because of the respect he has for rule of law.

Kanu also expressed sadness over the decision of the Chief Judge to return the case to Justice Nyako, insisting that Justice Nyako is biased over his case and should not preside over it.

It is on record that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been facing terrorism charges in Nigeria since 2015.

The IPOB Leader was first arrested in October 2015 by the Nigerian government on charges including: “treasonable felony, inciting violence, and operating an illegal organization.”

After spending more than a year in detention, Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 under strict conditions. However, in September 2017, his home in Umuahia, Abia State, was raided by the Nigerian military during “Operation Python Dance.” Following the raid, Kanu disappeared and was later discovered to have fled Nigeria.

For almost four years, his whereabouts remained largely unknown until June 2021, when Nigerian Government announced that “Kanu had been rearrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria.”

Since his return to detention here in Nigeria, Kanu has faced multiple court hearings.

Although some courts have found him not guilty and ordered his release, he has ever since then been in detention and facing multiple trials prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria against him and his organisation, IPOB.

Today, notwithstanding Kanu’s insistence that Justice Nyako has no jurisdiction over his case, the Prosecution, which raised objection to Kanu’s remarks, describing it as an insult to the court, prayed the court for a definite date for hearing since the defendant has refused to file a written application.

In her ruling, the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely.

~ NewsOrient

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