ABUJA:The ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu faced another delay as a legal dispute over the recusal of the presiding judge, Justice Nyako, took center stage.
Initially, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, had returned the case file to Justice Nyako, asserting that Kanu’s application for recusal must be formally presented to the court through a motion on notice.
Following this, on December 5, 2024, prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo sent a letter to the Deputy Chief Registrar, requesting that the court set a date for the trial’s commencement.
However, in response to the request for a trial date, Kanu’s defense counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, opposed the motion in a letter dated December 9, 2024. Ejimakor argued that the ruling for Justice Nyako to recuse herself stood, and the trial should not proceed under her oversight.
Ejimakor further requested the case be transferred to a Federal High Court in the South-East if no judge in Abuja was willing to take over. This request, however, was not granted.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, February 10, 2025, Justice Nyako stated that the Chief Judge had not accepted her recusal and had instead referred the case back to her.
She urged the defense team, led by Ejimakor, to submit a formal written application if they still insisted on her recusal.
The prosecution, led by Awomolo, declared their readiness for trial, stating that their witnesses were prepared to testify.
In a heated moment during the proceedings, Kanu expressed his frustration, questioning why the case was being brought before Justice Nyako.
He dismissed the judge’s statements as irrelevant to him and reiterated that he did not recognize the authority of the court under her leadership.
