The resumed hearing in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was marked by intense courtroom drama on Tuesday. Kanu publicly clashed with his lawyer and demanded that the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, step down from the case, accusing her of bias.
Kanu, facing seven charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleged that Justice Nyako had ignored a Supreme Court ruling in his case, leading to a loss of confidence in her impartiality.
In response, Justice Nyako announced her decision to recuse herself and stated that the case file would be forwarded to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge,” the judge declared.
Also, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), forcefully interrupted his own lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, shouting, “Sit down! I say you should sit down!” The outburst occurred as Ejimakor attempted to make a submission.
Addressing the judge, Kanu declared, “My Lord, I have no confidence in this court anymore, and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.” The incident further highlighted Kanu’s growing frustration with the ongoing legal proceedings.
“I can understand it if the DSS refused to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the Supreme Court is regrettable. I am asking you to recuse yourself from this case.”
Prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) called on Justice Nyako to dismiss Nnamdi Kanu’s allegations of disobedience to a Supreme Court order and urged the court to continue with the hearing.
“My Lord, you should not recuse yourself on the basis of this mere observation, which does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court. It is an incompetent observation. We urge this court to proceed with the hearing,” Awomolo said.
Nnamdi Kanu strongly objected to the prosecution’s position, waving a document he claimed was a copy of the Supreme Court’s ruling. He read aloud a portion that, according to him, questioned the impartiality of the trial court.
Kanu emphasized that his objection to the judge presiding over his case was not personal, but stemmed from frustration with a trial he believed contradicted constitutional provisions.
In response, Justice Nyako announced her decision, stating, “I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge.”
