A Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). This comes after Kanu insisted that the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, no longer has jurisdiction to hear his case.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his rearrest and extradition in June 2021, is facing several serious charges, including terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, and illegal possession of firearms.
The legal proceedings surrounding his trial have been highly contentious. A major turn of events occurred in September 2023 when Justice Nyako recused herself after Kanu expressed no confidence in her ability to fairly adjudicate the case. Despite this, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, reassigned the case to Nyako, instructing Kanu to formally request a change of judge.
At Monday’s resumed hearing, the prosecution, represented by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), stated that all legal documents had been filed, and they were prepared to proceed. However, Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Alloy Ejimakor, opposed this, resulting in a tense courtroom atmosphere.
Kanu interrupted the proceedings, stating his desire to represent himself. When asked by Justice Nyako whether he intended to take over from his lawyer, Kanu confirmed and added that the court no longer had authority over his case. He declared, “I don’t recognize the authority of this court to preside over my case. Everything you said here is meaningless to me.”
Kanu went further, accusing the prosecution of bias and questioning why his case was being treated differently from others. He challenged the court’s ruling, claiming that the Chief Judge’s decision to return the case to Justice Nyako violated the court’s previous order from September 24.
In response, Kanu rejected any involvement from Justice Nyako, calling the court a “shrine to injustice.” His passionate remarks led Justice Nyako to declare the trial adjourned indefinitely, stating, “The only decision I can make right now is that in the light of what is happening now in court, I am going to adjourn this case sine die (indefinitely).”
Kanu’s legal battles began on October 14, 2015, when he was arrested on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony. He was granted bail in 2017 but fled Nigeria after a military raid on his family home in Abia State. His bail was revoked in 2019, leading to his re-arrest in June 2021. Since then, Kanu’s requests for bail and a transfer to a correctional facility have been denied.
With the indefinite adjournment, the future of Kanu’s case remains uncertain as legal proceedings continue to unfold.
