The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting that his case be reassigned to another judge with proper jurisdiction.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a letter to the CJN, Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, argued that Justice Binta Nyako, who is currently presiding over the case, had previously recused herself following allegations of bias and should no longer be involved in the proceedings.
Kanu faces seven terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government. Ejimakor emphasized that judicial principles dictate that once a judge recuses themselves, they are disqualified from further participation in the case.
“Once a judge voluntarily recuses themselves, the immediate legal consequence is that they are disqualified from further proceedings. A decision or order of recusal is akin to a ruling on jurisdiction and cannot be reversed arbitrarily,” Ejimakor stated.
He further stressed that public trust in the judiciary is at stake, warning that allowing a previously recused judge to resume the case could erode confidence in the legal process.
Ejimakor also revealed that Kanu had lodged a formal complaint against Justice Nyako with the National Judicial Council on January 14, 2025, and that the petition was still under review.
He urged the CJN to intervene and ensure a fair trial by transferring the case to another judge in Abuja or a court in the South-East.
