The terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been suspended indefinitely by a federal high court in Abuja.
The trial was adjourned on Monday by Justice Binta Nyako, following Kanu’s insistence that the judge cannot preside over his case since she had recused herself.
Kanu has been facing terrorism charges since 2015.
Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 by the Nigerian government on charges including treasonable felony, inciting violence, and operating an illegal organization.
After spending more than a year in detention, Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 under strict conditions. However, in September 2017, his home in Abia State was raided by the Nigerian military during “Operation Python Dance.” Following the raid, Kanu disappeared and was later discovered to have fled Nigeria.
For almost four years, his whereabouts remained largely unknown until June 2021, when the Nigerian government announced that Kanu had been rearrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria. Since his return to detention, Kanu has faced multiple court hearings.
