Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared that he will never stand trial again before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu, who faces terrorism charges, made this statement in an open letter to Nigerians on Friday, which was shared by his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, on Sunday.
Kanu has been in detention since his controversial repatriation to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021. IPOB is advocating for the secession of the South-east and parts of the South-south regions of Nigeria.
During a court session on 24 September 2024, Kanu requested that Justice Nyako recuse herself from the case, accusing her of bias.
She initially agreed to withdraw, but the Federal High Court’s Chief Judge later reassigned the case to her.
Since then, Kanu and his legal team have consistently opposed Justice Nyako from overseeing the trial.
In his letter, Kanu vowed not to undergo trial under her again, stating that he would rather remain in detention than face a trial he believes is not conducted by a fair and impartial court.
Kanu explained that his request for Nyako’s recusal in September was based on her alleged bias, including her decision to order his detention at the State Security Service (SSS) facility without a fair hearing.
He also accused her of refusing to transfer him to a correctional facility, hindering his preparation for trial, and disregarding a Supreme Court ruling that mandated his bail be restored.
He argued that these actions justified his request for her recusal, which she initially granted, but the reassignment of his case to her by the Chief Judge undermined that decision.
He further criticized the re-assignment, claiming that it was part of a deliberate effort to shield his case from judges who might offer impartial justice, and implied a possible conspiracy with Nigerian authorities to secure a conviction.
Kanu also reflected on his 2021 repatriation, noting that Nigerian courts had ruled the action violated his fundamental rights and international law, stripping them of jurisdiction over his charges.
Kanu expressed frustration that despite being acquitted on 13 October 2022 by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the Nigerian government appealed the ruling and refused to release him from detention, leading to what he described as a fraudulent reversal of the judgment.
He emphasized that the government’s failure to comply with court orders violated the rule of law.
