The Federal High Court Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, has ordered that Justice Binta Nyako take over the case file for Nnamdi Kanu’s treason trial so that the trial may proceed.
Recall that on September 24, Justice Nyako withdrew from the case at the request of Kanu, the head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who stated he was losing faith in the judge’s ability to provide a fair trial.
Justice Tsoho ordered that until Kanu files a formal application, accompanied by an affidavit, outlining his grounds for wanting his trial to take place before a different judge, Justice Nyako should continue to preside over the matter.
As per the order of Justice Tsoho, the prosecution must also reply to Kanu’s application. After that, Justice Nyako will hear the case and make a determination regarding the withdrawal or not.
It was learnt that Justice Tsoho’s requirement was to avoid a recurrence of the events that transpired in the money laundering case involving Gabriel Suswam, the former governor of Benue State, wherein the Court of Appeal overruled Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who had withdrew from the case.
Because no hearings were held to allow parties to address the court regarding the judge’s withdrawal, the Court of Appeal concluded that Justice Mohammed had not withdrawn in a legitimate manner.
