The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has told Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja High Court, to hands off the trial of its leader, Nnamdi kanu.
Spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Sunday said recusing herself from the case would be well accepted, insisting that it had lost confidence in the judge.
IPOB said: “During the last court appearance of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on April 17, 2024, Justice Binta Nyako openly threatened to adjourn the case indefinitely because she was not allowed the liberty to execute the scripted judgement against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Justice Binta Nyako has made herself an interested party in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case instead of being a non-partisan and unbiased judge. A judge that has no control over her court should not handle a high-profile case like that of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Justice Binta Nyako should redeem herself and recuse herself or step down from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case because she is already compromised and controlled by those who sent her because of their political interests.
“Since the kidnap and rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in June 2021, and illegal arraignment before Justice Binta Nyako’s Court without legal representation, Justice Binta Nyako has not given Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a breathing space to express himself in order to allow for a fair hearing.
“She has always displayed personal hatred against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in her court. Maybe she wants a pound of flesh from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for forming the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which is dislodging terrorists herdsmen from Biafran bushes and forests.
“Though the Supreme Court, in their weakness, ruled that the Nigeria government committed an international crime in bringing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu back to Nigeria”.
The group wondered why Justice Nyako disregarded the ruling of the supreme court which called for the reinstatement of Kanu’s bail, adding that Kanu will not get justice as long as she sits on the case.
“Justice Binta Nyako should have reinstated Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s bail and apologised to him for tampering with his fundamental human rights. No! She never reinstated Mazi Kanu’s bail. Instead, she refused Mazi Kanu’s fresh applications for bail or transfer from the DSS solitary confinement to a correctional center because she has a hidden hatred and agenda.
“The actions and antecedent of Binta Nyako indicated that she will rule against this innocent man for reasons best known to her.
“IPOB demands that she rescue herself and save herself and her family of shame and unforgivable erroneous judgment,” the self-determination group stated.
