The Federal High Court Abuja has adjourned till further notice, hearing in the case against the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the case after Kanu refused to be tried before the court.
When hearing commenced on Monday, Justice Nyako who had earlier recused herself in the case
noted that the Chief Judge had not accepted the recusal and has referred the case back to her.
The trial judge asked the defence team to write a formal written application to the Chief Judge of the Federal high court and serve on the prosecution, if they still insist on the recusal.
The prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, then told the court that they were ready to go on with the case as they have witnesses lined up.
However, counsel for Kanu, Alloy Ejimakor reminded the court of a subsisting order that had not been set aside.
On this ground, Nnamdi Kanu decided to speak for himself in court, stating that the court has no jurisdiction to hear his case.
Kanu noted that he wasn’t happy with the decision of the court as it is biased over his case.
While Kanu continued to vent, the trial judge adjourned the matter sine die.
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Kanu’s trial was stalled after Justice Nyako recused herself from the case following an oral application by the defendant on September 24, 2024.
However the chief judge of the federal high court, Justice John Tsoho reverted the file to Nyako on the ground that Kanu’s application must be brought formally before the court through a motion on notice.
Consequently, in a letter dated December 5, 2024, and addressed to the deputy chief registrar, the prosecution counsel,
Adegboyega Awomolo asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Opposing the request for a trial date, Ejimakor, in a letter dated December 9, 2024 said the ruling of the judge recusing herself remains valid and asked that the case be transferred to a federal high court in the south-east if no judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
