Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun over the non-reassignment of his case to another judge by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Abuja, Justice John Tsoho.
In the petition addressed to the CJN by Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s legal team urged Kekere-Ekun to direct Justice Tsoho to reassign his case to a judge with the proper jurisdiction to try him.
The petition dated February 20, 2025, accused the current judge handling the matter, Justice Binta Nyako of being biased on Kanu’s seven-count charges on terrorism-related case.
Ejimakor said, “Once a judge voluntarily recuses themselves, the immediate legal consequence is that they are disqualified from further proceedings. A decision or order of recusal is akin to a ruling on jurisdiction and cannot be reversed arbitrarily.
“Public trust in the courts is crucial. If a judge unilaterally resumes a case after recusal, it creates a perception of partiality and undermines confidence in the judicial process,” Ejimakor noted.
He also informed the CJN that his client in a petition dated January 14, 2025, lodged a formal complaint against Justice Nyako with the National Judicial Council.
Noting that the petition is still pending, Ejimakor urged the CJN to use her office to ensure that his client get fair trial by either transferring the case to another judge in Abuja or to a court in the Southeast region of the country.
