A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned indefinitely the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, following a dispute over the judge’s jurisdiction.
Justice Binta Nyako issued the ruling after Kanu and his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, maintained that she no longer had the authority to preside over the case, having previously recused herself.
The trial’s indefinite adjournment stems from a legal standoff over Justice Nyako’s role in the case. On September 24, 2024, she withdrew from the trial after the defence made an oral application for her recusal. Following this, the case file was transferred to the Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment.
However, in a surprising development, Justice Tsoho returned the case file to Justice Nyako, ruling that the defence must file a formal application before her recusal could be officially recognised.
With Kanu’s legal team insisting that Justice Nyako lacked jurisdiction and the court unable to proceed without resolving the matter, the judge opted to adjourn the trial indefinitely, pending further legal clarification.