ABUJA – Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), appeared in court on Monday, questioning the jurisdiction of Justice Binta Nyako over his ongoing trial.
Despite Kanu’s claim that Justice Binta Nyako lacked jurisdiction over his case, the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely.
The self-determination activist had objected to Justice Nyako handling his trial.
In September 2024, the IPOB leader openly stated that he had lost confidence in her, leading to her recusal.
However, the Chief Judge returned the case to Justice Nyako, stating that two other judges had previously recused themselves, and Justice Nyako, having handled the matter since 2015, was best positioned to conclude it.
The prosecution, led by Adegboyega Awomolo, had requested a trial date in a letter dated December 5, 2024.
The defense, represented by Aloy Ejimakor, countered in a December 9 letter, arguing that Nyako’s recusal should stand and demanded that the case be transferred to a court in the South-East.
However, Nnamdi Kanu’s request was not granted.
At Monday’s hearing, Justice Nyako reaffirmed that the Chief Judge had not accepted her recusal, advising Kanu’s legal team to file a formal request if they wished to challenge her jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the prosecution stated they were ready to proceed, with witnesses prepared to testify.
Kanu, addressing the court, questioned why he was still being tried under Justice Nyako, insisting that she had no authority over his case.
He criticized the handling of the legal system in Nigeria and expressed dissatisfaction with the Chief Judge’s decision to return the case to Nyako.
Nnamdi Kanu said he was only in court because of the respect he has for the rule of law, adding that the judge had previously recused herself from the case.
Prosecutor Awomolo objected to Kanu’s remarks, urging the court to set a trial date and arguing that it was improper for Kanu to challenge the court’s authority.
However, despite the back-and-forth, Justice Binta Nyako ruled to adjourn the case indefinitely.
KOIKI Media recalls that Nnamdi Kanu had opposed the Federal Government’s request to resume his trial, insisting that Justice Binta Nyako, must withdraw from the case.
Kanu is facing trial on terrorism charges levelled against him by immediate former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over his call and agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His initial arrest in 2015 triggered protests by his supporters. In 2017, Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja granted Kanu bail.
Upon his release, a military invasion of his ancestral home in Umuahia, Abia State, in September 2017, forced him into exile, hence he did not attend his trial on the next scheduled date and thereafter. From then till June 2021 when he was abducted from Kenya and was subjected to “extraordinary rendition”, and brought back to Nigeria by former President Buhari’s government, there has been a robust public debate as to whether he jumped bail or not.
But an Appeal Court had discharged and acquitted Kanu of all terrorism charges, the judgment was later overturned by the Supreme Court which transferred the case back to the Federal High Court.
While deciding the appeal, the Supreme Court, on December 15, 2023, vacated the judgement of the appellate court and gave the Federal government the nod to try the IPOB leader on the subsisting seven-count charge.
Kanu, who holds a UK passport, has remained in prison, despite the Appeal Court ordering his release in October 2022 after ruling that he had been illegally arrested abroad.
In January 2024, Kanu’s attorney, Aloy Ejimakor clarified that the Supreme Court had settled the controversy on whether Kanu jumped bail or not.
The attorney said the Supreme Court also clarified that Kanu’s bail “should not have been revoked”. In the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment delivered in December 2023, the apex court declared that Kanu did not jump bail.
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