The family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has clarified the reasons behind Kanu’s call for Justice Binta Nyako to withdraw from presiding over his case.
According to the family, Kanu’s request was based on Justice Nyako’s refusal to comply with directives from the Supreme Court concerning the trial. They explained that the Supreme Court had criticized Nyako’s previous decision to revoke Kanu’s bail, and they were perplexed by her failure to reinstate it following the apex court’s ruling.
Responding to Justice Nyako’s subsequent decision to recuse herself from the case, the family accused the judge of exhibiting bias in her handling of the matter.
Prince Emmanuel Kanu, speaking on behalf of the family, welcomed Nyako’s recusal, describing it as a positive step. The family, having lost confidence in her impartiality, expressed hope that a new judge would faithfully follow the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling and ensure a fair trial for Kanu.
“The reason Nnamdi Kanu requested the Presiding Judge to step down was due to her failure to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders. In our view, she was neither willing nor prepared to follow the court’s directives, and we believe her bias against our son was evident,” said Prince Emmanuel Kanu.
