Mazi Nnamdi Kanu demands trial transfer to South-East

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has called for his trial to be transferred to the South-East if no judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja is willing to preside over the case apart from Justice Binta Nyako.

Kanu’s demand was outlined in a statement on Wednesday by his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, after a routine meeting with Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja.

This follows Justice Nyako’s recusal from the case on September 24, 2024, citing Kanu’s lack of confidence in her handling of the trial. Despite this, the case was later referred back to Justice Nyako by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for continuation.

Kanu has strongly opposed Justice Nyako’s involvement, arguing that her resumption of the case undermines judicial integrity. According to Ejimakor, Kanu has instructed his legal team to ensure Justice Nyako does not preside over his trial.

“The central issue arising at today’s visitation is the upcoming court date for the continuation of MNK’s case.

“Due to its constitutional implications, Onyendu instructed the legal team to take certain prompt steps to ensure that his case is not handled by the same Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who had withdrawn from the case by virtue of the order of recusal entered on 24th September 2024,” Ejimakor said in the statement.

Kanu’s legal team also emphasised the importance of appointing a new judge and suggested moving the trial to a Federal High Court in the South-East where the alleged offences were said to have occurred.

“If no other judge in Abuja is willing to handle the case, the Chief Judge is free to transfer the case to Umuahia, Awka, Enugu, Asaba, Port Harcourt, or any other Federal High Court within the former Eastern Nigeria, where the alleged offenses were said to have occurred or had their impact,” the statement read.