Federal High Court Judge Binta Nyako has withdrawn from the case involving Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
A recusal occurs when a judge removes themselves from a case due to a potential conflict of interest or perceived bias.
Justice Binta Nyako Stepdown From Nnamdi Kanu’s Case
At the resumed court session on Tuesday, Kanu directly told Nyako that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial.
Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the federal government, had told the court that he had a witness in court and was ready to proceed with trial.
Awomolo had also sought the protection of the witness.
While the court was setting up a protection screen to shield the witness, Alloy Ejimakor, counsel to Kanu, told the court that his team was not ready to proceed with the trial.
Ejimakor said his client has consistently been denied the opportunity to adequately prepare for his defence.
While the lawyer was still addressing the court, Kanu yelled from the dock, asking Ejimakor to sit down.
“Sit down! I say you should sit down!” the defendant bellowed from the dock.
Facing the judge, Kanu said: “My lord, I have no confidence in this court any more and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the supreme court”.
“I can understand it if the Department of State Services (DSS) refuses to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the supreme court is regrettable.
“I am asking you to recuse yourself from this case.”
Although the prosecution urged the court to proceed with the trial, Nyako said she would go with extricating herself from the case.
She said she would be sending the case file back to the chief judge for reassignment and further necessary actions.
“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the chief judge,” she held.