Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled March 21 for Nnamdi Kanu’s fresh trial.
The case, previously handled by Justice Binta Nyako, was reassigned after Kanu and his legal team requested a different judge, citing concerns over bias. Justice Nyako withdrew from the trial on September 24, 2024, stating that she could not proceed when the defendant lacked confidence in the court.
However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, initially returned the case to Justice Nyako, insisting that a formal request was necessary for her recusal to be valid. Kanu’s legal team maintained that she no longer had jurisdiction, leading to an indefinite adjournment of the trial.
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With the latest reassignment to Justice Omotosho, Kanu is set to take a fresh plea as the case begins anew. The IPOB leader was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 and faces a seven-count terrorism charge
Several judges, including Justice Ahmed Mohammed and Justice Tsoho, previously handled the case before it landed with Justice Nyako. The fresh trial under Justice Omotosho marks another chapter in the long-running legal battle.
NAN
