The Federal High Court in Abuja has set a new trial date for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for Friday, March 21, 2025.
The case file was transferred to Justice James Omotosho, following a reassignment after the recusal of the previous judge, Justice Binta Nyako.
Kanu faces a seven-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.
The trial had previously been delayed after Justice Nyako stepped down from the case on September 24, 2024, citing allegations of bias raised by Kanu and his legal team. Kanu’s lawyers had requested that the case be transferred to another judge.
Despite initial resistance from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, who returned the case to Nyako, Kanu’s legal team continued to oppose her involvement in the trial. This led to further adjournments, with the case being postponed indefinitely.
In a move to resolve the issue, Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in February 2025, seeking her intervention.
They requested that the trial be moved either to another judge in Abuja or to the Southeast region.
On March 8, 2025, Ejimakor confirmed that they had received two official letters: one from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and another from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, informing them of the reassignment of the case to Justice Omotosho.
With the new judge now in place, the trial is set to resume on March 21, 2025. Kanu’s legal team and supporters will be watching closely as the case progresses.
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