Nigerian Trial Delays: The Controversy Behind Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB

The legal team of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has expressed concern about the non-resumption of the Biafra agitator's trial.
The lawyers accused the Federal Government and the judiciary of purposefully prolonging the hearing of Kanu's case in court.

The legal team, which included lead lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, Jude Ugwuanyi, and Nnaemeka Ejiofor, addressed the conference as part of preparations to commemorate Kanu's detention nine years ago when he returned to Nigeria from London.

Kanu was arrested and detained on fabricated allegations of treasonable crime, defamatory publication, and illegal importation into Nigeria.

During his arraignment, the IPOB leader pled "not guilty" to the charges on December 12, 2015, but was held until April 25, 2017, when he was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Following his release, soldiers from Operation Python Dance stormed Kanu's ancestral home in Afaraukwu, Abia State, between April 10 and 14, 2017.

Following the invasion, Kanu fled Nigeria for London, where he resumed his campaign for Biafra.

On June 26, 2018, his case was heard by Justice Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, but he was not there because he had been banished to Kenya for safety.
On March 28, 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria told the court that Kanu had skipped bail and violated the terms of his bail, resulting in an application for bail revocation.

Following this, Kanu was given an arrest warrant, as well as an order forfeiting his sureties' bail bonds.

After the Federal High Court revoked Kanu's bail and issued an arrest order, the Federal Government of Nigeria kidnapped him from Nairobi, Kenya, and transported him to Nigeria.

However, the legal team claimed that the Nigerian government and judiciary are purposefully delaying the hearing of Kanu's case.

In a joint statement, the lawyers claimed that on September 24, 2024, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order recusing herself from Kanu's terrorism case before her court and forwarded the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.

They complained that the case had not been reassigned to another judge nearly five months after she recused herself.

The lawyers also argued that Kanu was correct in asking Justice Nyako's recusal from his case.
The prosecution makes no effort to shift the case to another judge. We all know how many justices in the Federal High Court in Abuja are superbly qualified and competent to hear the matter on its merits, but it appears that either Justice Binta hears the case or Mazi Nnamdi remains in DSS prison indefinitely."