The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has submitted a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting that she direct the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to reassign his case to another judge with proper jurisdiction.
In a letter addressed to the CJN, Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, argued that Justice Binta Nyako, the current judge presiding over the case, had recused herself following Kanu’s allegations of bias. Kanu is facing seven terrorism-related charges brought by the Federal Government.
Ejimakor emphasized that according to legal principles, once a judge recuses themselves from a case, they are disqualified from further involvement. He urged the CJN to intervene administratively to ensure the case is reassigned.
“Once a judge voluntarily recuses themselves, the immediate legal consequence is disqualification from further proceedings. A decision or order of recusal is equivalent to a ruling on jurisdiction and cannot be reversed arbitrarily,” Ejimakor stated.
He also highlighted that public perception and judicial integrity are at risk, warning that assigning the case to a judge who had recused themselves could undermine confidence in the judiciary.
Ejimakor revealed that Kanu had filed a formal complaint against Justice Nyako with the National Judicial Council on January 14, 2025, and that the petition was still pending.
He further called on the CJN to use her authority to ensure a fair trial, either by transferring the case to another judge in Abuja or to a court in the South-East.
