The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho, has rejected the recusal request of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, seeking reassignment of the case to another judge for trial.
Persecondnews recalls that during the September 24 hearing on the seven-count terrorism charges he faced from the Federal Government, Kanu expressed a lack of confidence in the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, and requested her recusal.
Nyako agreed to Nnamdi Kanu’s request to recuse herself from his trial, stating she would send his case file back to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
However, citing the previous recusal of two other judges from the case, Justice Tsoho unexpectedly returned Kanu’s case file to Justice Nyako.
Tsoho explained that Kanu’s case had been reassigned to Justice Nyako due to its prolonged nature, dating back to 2015.
She was considered the most qualified judge to see the case through to completion because she had been handling it for the majority of that time.
Justice Tsoho further stated that if Kanu insists on recusing Justice Nyako at the next hearing, he must file a written motion on notice, along with an affidavit detailing the grounds for his request.
He said: “Nnamdi Kanu must also serve it on the prosecution team and appear before Justice Nyako for her review and determination, after which she can make her decision.”
Kanu’s counsel, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development, adding that Kanu’s team is awaiting an official notice from the court and a new hearing date.
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