Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recused herself from the trial of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The development followed Kanu’s objection to Justice Nyako’s continued handling of his trial.
Kanu spoke from the dock on Tuesday during his trial in the seven-count terrorism charge preferred against him by the federal government.
While his lawyer, Mr. Alloy Ejimakor, was trying to persuade the court to suspend the trial on the basis that his client was denied the opportunity to prepare his defence, Kanu sprang up from his seat and ordered him to sit down.
“Sit down! I say you should sit down!” Kanu yelled at his lawyer.
He further 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 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,” Kanu stated.
Though the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the court to proceed with the trial, Justice Binta Nyako said she was binded to recuse herself from the case.
“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge,” she held.
