The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to a different judge following pressure from his legal team.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Abuja.
Kanu had previously objected to Justice Binta Nyako presiding over his trial on a seven-count terrorism charge filed by the federal government. Although Justice Nyako initially stepped down and returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment, the file was later sent back to her, prompting further opposition from Kanu’s team.
On February 20, Kanu’s lawyers wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking her intervention. Ejimakor disclosed that on March 7, the legal team received two official letters—one from the Chief Justice of Nigeria and another from the Chief Judge—confirming the case had been reassigned.
According to Ejimakor, Kanu remains confident in his innocence and is prepared to stand trial. He also expressed appreciation to the Chief Justice for her swift response and to the public for their support in advocating for a fair legal process.
He emphasized that Kanu’s legal team had been concerned about delays in the judicial process since Justice Nyako’s recusal in September 2024. Given these challenges, they took necessary steps to ensure the case was reassigned appropriately.
Now that the reassignment has been confirmed, Ejimakor stated that Kanu’s legal team will focus on preparing a robust defense as the case moves forward.