The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has again questioned the jurisdiction of Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to try him in the alleged terrorism charge preferred against him by the federal government.

The IPOB leader Monday directly told Justice Nyako that he no longer has confidence in her handling of his trial, asking her to recuse herself from his trial, a request which the judge granted and immediately remitted the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to another judge. 

Despite Kanu’s insistence Monday that Justice Nyako has no jurisdiction over his case, the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely.

Kanu, who had been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, is being tried for alleged terrorism.

His trial was stalled after Justice Nyako recused herself from the case following an oral application he (Kanu) made on September 24, 2024.

However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, reverted the case file to Justice Nyako on the ground that Kanu’s application must be brought formally before the court through a motion on notice.

In a letter dated December 5, 2024, addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the prosecution counsel, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of the trial of the IPOB leader.

Opposing the request for a trial date, the defence counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, in a letter dated December 9, 2024 said the ruling of Justice Nyako recusing herself remains valid.

Ejimakor asked that the case be transferred to a Federal High Court in the South-east if no judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it, a request which was not granted.