Binta Nyako, a federal high court judge, has voluntarily stepped down from presiding over Nnamdi Kanu’s case, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This decision comes after Kanu expressed a loss of confidence in Nyako’s ability to handle his trial impartially during the resumed court session on Tuesday.
Before Nyako’s recusal, Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the federal government, had indicated readiness to proceed with the trial, stating that a witness was present in court.
Awomolo had also sought the protection of the witness.
While the court was setting up a protection screen to shield the witness, Alloy Ejimakor, counsel to Kanu, told the court that his team was not ready to proceed with the trial.
Ejimakor said his client has consistently been denied the opportunity to adequately prepare for his defence.
While the lawyer was still addressing the court, Kanu yelled from the dock, asking Ejimakor to sit down.
“Sit down! I say you should sit down!” the defendant bellowed from the dock.
Facing the judge, Kanu said: “My lord, I have no confidence in this court any more and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the supreme court”.
“I can understand it if the Department of State Services (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.”
Although the prosecution urged the court to proceed with the trial, Nyako said she would go with extricating herself from the case.
She said she would be sending the case file back to the chief judge for reassignment and further necessary actions.
“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the chief judge,” she held.
More to come…
