Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has announced that the trial of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is scheduled to begin on March 21. This development comes as the case file was officially transferred to Justice Omotosho.
Kanu, who was apprehended in June 2021 in Kenya and extradited back to Nigeria, will be required to take his plea in what will be a fresh start to the legal proceedings against him, referred to as a trial de novo.
According to reports, the Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice John Tsoho, communicated the reassignment of Kanu’s case from Justice Binta Nyako in a letter dated March 4. The transfer occurred following requests from Kanu and his legal team for the seven-count terrorism charge to be overseen by a different judge, citing perceived bias from Justice Nyako.
Justice Nyako had previously recused herself from the case on September 24, 2024, acknowledging that a trial could not progress where the defendant lacked confidence in the court. Despite this recusal, the Chief Judge insisted that the case file should be returned to Justice Nyako until a formal application from the defense was submitted.
Kanu and his counsel, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, maintained their position that Justice Nyako no longer retained jurisdiction over the case after her withdrawal, resulting in an indefinite adjournment of the matter.
