Justice Binta Nyako recuses herself from Nnamdi Kanu’s trial amid tensions

In a dramatic turn of events, Justice Binta Nyako has withdrawn from the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), after Kanu openly challenged the court’s impartiality.

The decision was made during Tuesday’s hearing in Abuja, where Kanu’s legal team sought a postponement of the trial due to inadequate time for defense preparation.

Kanu’s lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, argued that his client had not been given enough time to prepare his defense, requesting the trial’s postponement.

However, the proceedings took an unexpected turn when Kanu interrupted his lawyer mid-submission, asking him to sit down.

Addressing the court directly, Kanu expressed his lack of confidence in Justice Nyako’s ability to deliver a fair trial, citing the court’s failure to adhere to a previous Supreme Court ruling.

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“My lord, I no longer have faith in this court’s impartiality, as it has disregarded the Supreme Court’s decision; therefore, I request your honorable recusal,” Kanu stated firmly.

Kanu’s statement highlighted the growing frustration over what his legal team perceives as bias in the handling of the case, particularly regarding compliance with higher court rulings.

“It’s comprehensible if the DSS declines to comply with a court order, but for this court to disregard a Supreme Court directive is truly unfortunate,” Kanu added, referencing the Department of State Services (DSS) and its role in the ongoing legal battle.

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In response, the prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adegboyega Awomolo, urged the court to proceed with the trial. Despite the prosecution’s plea, Justice Nyako took the significant step of recusing herself from the case, stating, “I am recusing myself from this matter and remanding the case file to the Chief Judge.”

Justice Nyako’s decision to step down has added a new layer of complexity to the already high-profile case.

The trial of Kanu, who has been at the center of Nigeria’s separatist tensions, now awaits reassignment to a new judge, while the defense continues to argue for fair treatment and adherence to legal procedures.

The next steps in Kanu’s legal journey remain uncertain, as the case now moves into the hands of the Chief Judge for reassignment, prolonging the legal drama surrounding the IPOB leader.