Nnamdi Kanu’s trial takes a twist, as Judge hands off the case

ABUJA - Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was on Tuesday asked by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to recuse herself from his trial.

Kanu spoke from the dock at the resumed proceeding in the seven-count terrorism charge the FG preferred against him.

Arising from his seat within the dock, he ordered his lawyer, Mr. Alloy Ejimakor who was trying to persuade the court to suspend the trial on the basis that his client was denied the opportunity to prepare his defence, to take a seat.

Speaking for himself, he said, “My lord, I have no confidence in this court anymore and I ask yo recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.

“I can understand it if the DSS refuses to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the Supreme Court is regrettable.

“I am asking you to recuse yourself from this case.”

But the prosecution counsel, Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, pleaded the court not to favour ignore Kanu’s position.

According to him, “The Justices ordered this court to proceed with the hearing of the charge against the defendant. My lord, you should not recuse yourself on the basis of this mere observation which does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court. It is an incompetent observation. We urge this court to proceed with the hearing.”

Between, Kanu rose again from the dock, waving a copy of what he described as the subsisting judgement of the Supreme Court.

As he read a portion where the apex court held that actions of the trial court in the matter “rendered the impartiality of the judge suspect”, he said, “But my lord, you know that I love you. It is just that this court is allowing the defence to railroad me into a trial that is at variance with every provision of the Constitution.”

However, Justice Nyako after expressing her dissatisfaction with the development, made an open disclosure of her unwillingness to continue with the case.

“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge,” she submitted.

The court had earlier okayed FG’s request to shield the identities of witnesses billed to testify in the matter.