New judge fixes March 21 for Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed March 21, for the commencement of the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The judge fixed the date after the case file was transferred to him.

Kanu, who was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya, was expected to take his plea as the case begins afresh (de novo).

The Chief Judge of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, had in a letter dated March 4 and addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Mr. 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 he alleged bias.

Justice Nyako, on September 24, 2024, recused (withdrew) herself from the case and sent the case file to the CJ for re-assignment.

READ ALSO: After months of stalemate, Nnamdi Kanu’s trial finally gets new judge

The judge said she could not proceed with a trial where a defendant lacked confidence in the court.

However, the CJ sent the Kanu’s case file back to Justice Nyako for adjudication, insisting that a formal application must be made by the defence before the recusal could be accepted.

But Kanu and his lawyer on February 10 insisted that Justice Nyako no longer had jurisdiction to preside over the case after her withdrawal from the matter, prompting the judge to adjourn the case indefinitely (sine die).

Justice Ahmed Mohammed (who has been elevated to Appeal Court) and Justice Tsoho had presided over Kanu’s trial before it was assigned to Justice Nyako, following the defendant’s rejection of the two judges.

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