The terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been reassigned to a different judge by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.
The decision follows a request by Kanu’s legal team, after Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from the case. The reassignment was confirmed on Saturday in a statement by Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor.
Ejimakor revealed that Kanu’s legal team had written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking intervention in the reassignment process.
“Yesterday, before the legal team conducted our routine visitation to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we received two separate official letters regarding his case. The letters are momentous and somewhat pyrrhic,” Ejimakor stated.
He explained that one letter was from the CJN, acknowledging their request, while the other was from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, informing them that the case had been reassigned to a new judge.
Following the development, Ejimakor said Kanu instructed his legal team to extend his gratitude to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for her swift intervention.
“He also expressed his profound appreciation to members of the general public who publicly supported our righteous demands that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case be reassigned to another judge, as the law demands,” he added.
Ejimakor reaffirmed that Kanu remains ready to stand trial, maintaining his innocence. However, he noted that the past six months—since Justice Nyako’s recusal in September 2024—had raised serious concerns about Kanu’s constitutional right to a fair and speedy hearing.
“Now that the authorities have taken the initial steps to uphold the law, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his legal team will take stock and focus on zealous preparation for his defence,” Ejimakor stated.
