Court Orders Nnamdi Kanu to Appear for Resumed Trial

Nnamdi Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, Mike Ozekhome

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to appear in court for the resumption of his trial.

The directive was contained in a hearing notice signed by the court registrar and dated January 22, 2025. The notice was addressed to Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, who later shared a copy on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday.

Kanu, who faces terrorism charges, has remained in detention since his controversial repatriation from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021. IPOB, the group he leads, has been advocating for an independent state of Biafra, seeking to carve it out from Nigeria’s South-East and parts of the South-South.

Court Hearing Set for February 10

According to the court’s hearing notice, the case between the Nigerian government and Kanu is scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

“This case will be transferred from the general cause list to the hearing paper for Monday, the 10th day of February 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the forenoon and will come on to be heard on that day if the business of the court permits, or otherwise on some adjournment day of which you will receive no further notice,” the notice read.

Legal Team’s Reaction

Following the court’s notice, Ejimakor and other members of Kanu’s legal team met with the IPOB leader at the State Security Service (SSS) detention facility on Friday to discuss the development.

In a post on X, Ejimakor confirmed the meeting, stating: “We shall appear with a bated breath.”

Uncertainty Over Judge Handling the Case

The hearing notice did not specify whether Justice Binta Nyako would continue presiding over the case.

During the last court session on September 24, 2024, Kanu had requested Justice Nyako’s recusal, accusing her of bias. The judge subsequently announced her withdrawal, but the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court later reassigned the case back to her.

Since then, Kanu’s legal team has consistently opposed Justice Nyako’s involvement, arguing that since she had already stepped down, she could no longer preside over the case.

Kanu also requested that if no other judge in Abuja was willing to handle the case, it should be transferred to the South-East.

Background of Kanu’s Legal Battle

Kanu was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

On October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, ruled that his extraordinary rendition from Kenya was illegal and a violation of his fundamental human rights. The court struck out the terrorism charges against him and ordered his release from detention.

However, the Nigerian government refused to release Kanu, citing security concerns and fears that he might evade future court proceedings.

The government, through the Attorney-General’s office, later appealed the ruling and obtained a stay of execution order at the Supreme Court.

On December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed Kanu’s acquittal and ordered that his trial resume at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

With the new court order, all eyes are now on the February 10 hearing as Kanu’s legal battle continues.