ABUJA, Nigeria – The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will begin from scratch on Friday, March 21, 2025, following the reassignment of his case to Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The development comes after years of legal battles and multiple judicial rulings on the matter.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria in 2021, is facing charges of treasonable felony.
His case, which first began in 2015, has seen numerous twists, including bail revocation, charge dismissals, and appeals.
In 2017, Kanu was granted bail but fled the country after soldiers raided his home in Abia State. His bail was subsequently revoked, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
In April 2022, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge sheet.
The remaining seven counts were quashed by the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2022, with the court ordering Kanu’s release.
However, the federal government appealed the decision, and the Court of Appeal granted a stay of execution on 28 October 2022, pending the outcome of the appeal at the Supreme Court.
Kanu had repeatedly accused Justice Nyako of bias and requested her recusal from the case.
In September 2024, Nyako recused herself following an oral application by the defendant.
However, the case file was returned to her two weeks later by Chief Judge John Tsoho, who ruled that Kanu’s application must be formally brought before the court through a motion on notice.
On 10 February 2025, Nyako adjourned the case indefinitely after Kanu insisted she could no longer preside over the matter.
In a statement on 8 March, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed receiving “two separate official letters” from Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and Chief Judge Tsoho, informing him of the case’s reassignment to Justice Omotosho.
The Federal High Court has since issued a statement confirming the reassignment, marking a fresh start for the high-profile trial.
Kanu’s case has drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally, with human rights groups and supporters calling for his release.
The IPOB leader’s detention and trial have also reignited debates about self-determination and the treatment of separatist movements in Nigeria.
As the trial resumes, stakeholders are closely watching how the judiciary will handle the case, which has become a focal point in discussions about justice, human rights, and national unity in Nigeria.
