, Nnamdi Kanu, has been assigned a new judge to preside over his terrorism charges){kind=link}
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been assigned a new judge to preside over his terrorism charges.
This development comes after Kanu’s request for the recusal of Justice Binta Nyako, the previous judge handling his case.
Kanu is facing a seven-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government. The case has been ongoing for several months, with Kanu’s legal team raising concerns about the fairness of the trial.
In September 2024, Kanu’s legal team requested the recusal of Justice Binta Nyako, citing concerns about her impartiality. However, after Nyako recused herself, the case file was reassigned to her again, prompting Kanu’s legal team to oppose the reassignment.
On February 20, Kanu’s legal team wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking her intervention in the matter. The team requested that the case be reassigned to a new judge, citing concerns about the fairness of the trial.
On March 7, Kanu’s legal team received a letter from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, informing them that the case had been reassigned to a new judge. The team has expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for her intervention and to the public for their support.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, stated that Kanu is ready to stand trial, convinced of his innocence. However, the legal team had raised concerns about the fairness of the trial, citing the need for a new judge to preside over the case.
The reassignment of the case to a new judge is seen as a significant development in Kanu’s trial. It is expected that the new judge will ensure a fair and impartial trial, addressing concerns raised by Kanu’s legal team.