The self acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has been returned to the custody of the Department of the State Service, DSS, following the indefinite adjournment of his terrorism trial.
Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the matter sine die.
The adjournment of the trial indefinitely followed Kanu’s insistence that the judge cannot preside over his case since she had recused herself.
Justice Binta Nyako had on September 24, 2024 opted out of Kanu’s case after an oral application to that effect was moved by the defendant.
“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file to the chief judge,” the judge had said.
Kanu who took over the proceedings from his lawyers had directly told the judge that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial.
However, the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, after reviewing the circumstances that led to the decision of Justice Binta Nyako, returned the case file to her on the ground that Kanu’s application must be formally brought before the court through a motion on notice.
Consequently, in a letter dated December 5, 2024, and addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar, counsel to the Federal Government Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial