Second Judge Withdraws from IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

The judge handling Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu‘s trial, Justice John Tsoho has returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment.

Kanu’s counsels, led by Chuks Muoma had written a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), claiming that Tsoho made conflicting rulings on an application by the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a secret trial for him (Kanu), hence justice is not guaranteed for their client.

Muoma brought the matter up in court this morning, which led to Tsoho’s dropping of the case.

In his ruling, Tsoho said:

I deem it unnecessary to allow the learned DPP (director of public prosecution) M. Labaran to make any response. Luckily, the procedure would have been to await the response of the NJC.”

This court is minded not to prolong the issue, especially since they (the defense team) did not state which court it wants the matter to handle its case.

I have disqualified myself from sitting over this case, thereby the case file shall be transferred to the office of the chief justice of the Federal High Court.

This shall be the position of this court even if the NJC decides otherwise.

This the second time that a judge will be withdrawing from Kanu’s trial.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed withdrew from Kanu’s case after Kanu refused to take plea on a six-count charge of treason, importation of illegal good and possession of fire arms filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu had said that the trial judge was biased.