Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has scheduled the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to begin on March 21, 2025. The case was reassigned to Justice Omotosho after the case file was transferred to him.
Kanu, who was controversially repatriated from Kenya in June 2021, is expected to take his plea as the case commences afresh. The trial follows Kanu’s request for the transfer of his case to another judge due to allegations of bias.
The Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice John Tsoho, confirmed the reassignment in a letter dated March 4, addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor. This came after Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from the case in September 2024, citing the defendant’s lack of confidence in her. Kanu’s defense team had previously insisted that Nyako no longer had jurisdiction, leading to an indefinite adjournment.
Kanu’s trial has seen several judicial changes, with previous judges, including Justice Ahmed Mohammed (now at the Appeal Court), and Justice Tsoho, presiding before it was assigned to Justice Nyako.