Kanu Asks Judge to Step Down, Trial Adjourned Indefinitely

Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, recently appeared in court in Abuja and asked Judge Binta Nyako to step down due to bias. He cited previous instances where, in his view, she should have recused herself. The court adjourned the matter sine die.

In a court video, Kanu said: “You Are Very Biased And Should Recuse Yourself From My Case.”

Kanu’s objections against Justice Nyako stem from allegations against her family. He alleged that the judge wanted to try him because of corruption cases against her husband and son. He claimed the government has offered to let them off the hook if he is convicted.

This is not the first time Kanu has asked Justice Nyako to step down. On September 24, 2024, he accused her of bias and asked her to recuse herself. She agreed and stepped down. But the Chief Judge assigned the case back to her and the dispute continued.

In his next appearance in court, Kanu again expressed his lack of confidence in Justice Nyako. He said his objection was not personal but about the fairness of the trial. He cited a Supreme Court judgment that, according to him, queried the judge’s neutrality.

Justice Nyako responded to Kanu’s objections by stepping down again and returning the case file to the Chief Judge. The trial is now in limbo with no new date fixed.

The situation was further complicated by the prosecution’s move to reopen the trial while the government’s lawyer asked for a new date, saying the Chief Judge had re-assigned Justice Nyako to the case. Kanu’s lawyer said her previous recusal still stands and she should not be hearing the case.

Watch the video below;