AFTER COURT’s Indefinite Adjournment Of His Case, DSS Takes Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Custody
Reports have it that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who refers to himself as the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been returned to the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) after his terrorism trial was postponed indefinitely. On Monday, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja announced that the case would be put on hold indefinitely, without setting a new date for proceedings. The decision to suspend the trial came after Kanu insisted that Justice Nyako could no longer preside over his case because she had previously withdrawn from it.
Justice Nyako had officially stepped down from handling Kanu’ s trial on September 24, 2024, following a verbal request from Kanu himself. This means that until further notice, there will be no court hearings or legal proceedings on the case, and Kanu will remain in DSS custody. It is unclear when or if the trial will resume, as a new judge may need to be assigned before the case can continue. ” I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file to the chief judge, ” the judge had said. DAILY POST reported that Kanu took control of his case from his lawyers and told the judge directly that he no longer trusted her to handle his trial.
However, the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, reviewed the situation and decided that Justice Binta Nyako should continue with the case. He ruled that Kanu must submit a formal written request (a motion on notice) if he wanted the judge to step down. Following this, on December 5, 2024, the Federal Government’ s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), wrote to the court, asking for a trial date to be set. In response, Kanu’ s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, sent a letter on December 9, 2024, arguing that Justice Nyako’ s decision to step down was final. He also requested that if no judge in Abuja was willing to take the case, it should be moved to a Federal High Court in the South- East.
During Monday’ s court session, Awomolo informed the court that the prosecution had submitted all necessary documents and was ready to proceed with the trial. However, Ejimakor argued that the real issue was not about starting the trial. Justice Nyako then clarified that although she did not want to handle the case, the Chief Judge had refused to let her step down. She explained that Kanu must file a formal request for the case to be reassigned to another judge. As the lawyers continued arguing over whether a formal motion was necessary, Kanu interrupted rudely, saying, ” I want to speak. ”
The judge then asked him, ” Do you want to take over from your lawyer? ” Kanu replied, ” Yes, I want to take over. ” He explained that he only appeared in court out of respect but insisted that Justice Nyako no longer had the authority to handle his case since she had stepped down in September. Turning to the prosecution lawyer, Kanu lashed out, saying, ” A grown- up man like you, who should be in the village making sure things are done properly, is here subverting the law. ” Addressing the judge directly, he declared, ” I don’ t recognize the authority of this court over my case.
” Everything you have said here is meaningless to me. Why is it that when it comes to my case, everything is turned upside down? ” He insisted that the Chief Judge’ s memo, which returned the case to Justice Nyako, could not override the official court ruling made on September 24. When the judge told him he had the right to appeal the Chief Judge’ s directive, Kanu fired back, ” If the Chief Judge disagrees, he should appeal the decision. You cannot preside over this case— not now, not today, not ever. You stand recused and must leave my case. I don’ t need you in my case. You are biased. Tell the Chief Judge that Nnamdi Kanu said so. This is not a court of law; this is a shrine to injustice, and I will not subject myself to it. ”
Despite the outburst, the Federal Government’ s lawyer, Awomolo, urged the court to set a trial date. ” Since the defendant has made it clear that he will not submit a formal request, I ask that your lordship fix a definite trial date, ” Awomolo said. Kanu interrupted again, shouting, ” Because of the money they are paying you from the AGF’ s office, a grown- up man like you is here supporting evil! The rule of law says you should go on appeal. The same Chief Judge writing this stupid memo— I have recused him before. He sat on appeal, I took him to the NJC, and he was recused. Why is he insisting on this one? He wants to embarrass your lordship by forcing her to sit on this case. “
