The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, John Tsoho, has finally reassigned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu to a new judge. This decision comes after months of legal disputes and repeated objections from Kanu’s legal team.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court. He has been in detention since his controversial repatriation from Kenya in June 2021.
Justice Binta Nyako had been handling the case, but Kanu requested her recusal on September 24, 2024, citing bias. She initially withdrew, but Chief Judge Tsoho later reassigned the case back to her. This move triggered further protests from Kanu’s lawyers, who insisted on a new judge.
During a February 10, 2025, hearing, Kanu accused Justice Nyako of refusing to step down due to corruption allegations against her family members. His legal team continued to push for a change of judge.
Case Officially Reassigned
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed receiving a letter from Chief Judge Tsoho, notifying them that the case had been reassigned. He also shared a screenshot of the letter dated March 4, 2025, on social media.
Ejimakor revealed that the team also received a letter from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, dated February 25, 2025. The letter was a response to the legal team’s request for her intervention in the matter.
“Consequent upon these latest developments, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu instructed the legal team to publicly convey his sincere gratitude to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for her sound administrative discretions and the dispatch with which she responded to our request,” Ejimakor said.
Kanu also thanked the public for supporting his demand for a fair trial. However, the name of the new judge assigned to the case was not disclosed.
Ejimakor reaffirmed that his client is fully prepared to face trial, confident of his innocence. “Now that the first steps have been taken by the authorities to do the lawful thing, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his legal team shall take stock and prepare his defense,” he said.
The legal team believes this change marks progress in ensuring Kanu’s right to a fair and speedy trial.
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