Breaking: Justice Binta Nyako Takes Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Case

Nnamdi Kanu and Justice Binta Nyako.

The case involving the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and the Federal Government of Nigeria, has been re- assigned to Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja.

Recall Mr. Kanu's trial for treasonable felony had another setback on the 26th of September 2016, after Justice John Tsoho stepped down from the case, following an accusation by Kanu’s lawyer, Chuks Mouma.

Mouma had accused Justice Tsoho of bias, in the handling of the matter, stating that the court should hands off the proceedings in line with a petition written to the National Judicial Council, NJC, to protest the judges handling of Kanu’s trial.

“We are only asking the court to hands off; my client has lost confidence in this court.
“I understand that there is a letter to NJC, though I haven’t seen it and the CJ has replied saying that the matter will be investigated.

“I would urge you that you transfer the matter; I would suggest that it be sent back to the CJ,” Mouma said.
Reacting to the development during proceedings on September 26 , Justice Tsoho stated that Kanu’s case file has been returned to the Chief Justice of the Court, Ibrahim Auta for reassignment.

According to him, “I have no interest in trying your matter and I will return it to the CJ, but I will condemn the attitude of that counsel. I do not care if you take your case to another planet.
“This case is hereby transferred to the CJ.” Justice Tsoho said.

However, according to Kanu's lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the case has been re-assigned to Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja.

Ejiofor furthered that the court has fixed Tuesday, November 8, for arraignment and hearing on a motion for bail filed by the defendant.

Coincidentally, the November 8 court hearing on a motion for bail filed by the defendant, clashes with an expected judgment on an application filed by Kanu against the Nigerian government at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice.

Speaking on the possibility of Mr. Kanu's counsel handing the two court cases, Ejiofor expressed confidence that his team will be able to handle both cases. “My team will have to take find a way to attend to both cases,” Ejiofor told Naij.

Meanwhile, Justice Nyako would be the third judge handling the case against the Biafran leader. The first judge that handled Kanu’s matter was Justice Shuiabu Usman of a Magistrate Court in Wuse zone 2, Abuja, the second was Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who actually granted the IPOB leader bail.

Furthermore, Kanu alongside his co-accused, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi are facing a six-count charge of treasonable felony, brought against them by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Although they have been granted bail twice by a federal high court sitting in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari’s led government has refused to obey the court orders raising doubts over the possibility of Mr. Kanu and his co-accused regaining freedom.

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