Osamagbe Imadiyi
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, was re-arraigned before Federal High Court Judge James Omotosho in Abuja on Friday. Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) represented the Federal Government, and Kanu Agabi declared his appearance on Kanu’s behalf after the case was called. Kanu has been charged by the Federal Government with seven counts of terrorism. The case was assigned to Justice Omotosho after Kanu requested a new judge and Justice Binta Nyako, the previous judge overseeing the case, recused herself. On September 24, 2024, Justice Nyako recused himself in response to claims of bias made by Kanu and his attorneys, who wanted the case to be transferred to a different judge.
On October 14, 2015, Kanu was initially taken into custody after returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. Following his incarceration at the Kuje Correctional Facility, he was later released on bail in 2017 on health grounds. However, Kanu jumped bail and returned to the United Kingdom. He was extradited to Nigeria after being arrested again in Kenya in 2021, and the Department of State Services has held him there ever since. The case was transferred to Justice Omotosho after Kanu requested a new judge and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Nigeria’s Chief Justice, intervened.
On behalf of Kanu, Agabi opened the reopened session by saying, “They are now at a place where they must apologise to Justice Binta Nyako, the prosecution team, and his legal team.”Agabi added that Kanu had been angry for a long time. He apologized to Kanu’s team, whom Kanu had verbally assaulted during the previous sitting, and admitted that the attack on Justice Nyako was unwarranted. He also apologized for Kanu’s remarks about the Federal Government’s attorney, who also serves as the chairman of the Body of Benchers, calling him a highly respected attorney. The defense team did not raise any objections when the prosecution told the court that they were prepared for trial. Given the ten-year duration of the case, Justice Omotosho granted an expedited hearing. Trial dates were postponed to April 29, May 2, and May 6.
