Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recused herself from the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on terrorism charges brought by the federal government.
The judge stepped down from the case on Tuesday after Kanu expressed a lack of confidence in her ability to handle the proceedings.
During the hearing, Kanu interrupted the proceedings, instructing his lawyer, Aloy Ejimako, to sit down as he addressed the court directly. He declared he no longer had trust in Justice Nyako and demanded she recuse herself from the trial.
Despite objections from the federal government’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who argued that the trial was proceeding based on a Supreme Court ruling, Justice Nyako chose to step aside.
She stated her preference for another judge to handle the case and subsequently returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, for reassignment.
Kanu has since been returned to the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
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