Connect with us

Politics

Nnamdi Kanu Opposes Federal Government’s Bid to Resume Trial, Demands Judge’s Recusal

Published

on

Nnamdi Kanu Opposes Federal Government’s Bid to Resume Trial, Demands Judge’s Recusal

Nnamdi Kanu Opposes Federal Government’s Bid to Resume Trial, Demands Judge’s Recusal

 

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has rejected the Federal Government’s request to resume his trial, insisting that Justice Binta Nyako must step aside as the presiding judge.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed this stance in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, maintaining that Justice Nyako’s earlier decision to recuse herself from the case remains valid.

Kanu, who faces seven charges of alleged treasonable felony and terrorism, was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria under controversial circumstances. He has consistently pleaded not guilty to all charges.

 

Background and Recusal Dispute

During the last court session on September 24, 2024, Kanu directly requested Justice Nyako’s recusal, expressing a lack of confidence in her handling of the case. Justice Nyako agreed and forwarded the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

However, the Chief Judge returned the case to Justice Nyako, explaining that two other judges had previously stepped aside from the matter. Given her extensive familiarity with the case since 2015, the Chief Judge deemed Justice Nyako the best-positioned judge to conclude the trial.

In a directive accompanying the reassignment, the Chief Judge stated that if Kanu still wished for Justice Nyako’s withdrawal, he must file a formal motion with an affidavit outlining his reasons, serve the prosecution, and await her determination.

Despite this instruction, Federal Government counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) requested a new trial date in a December 5, 2024, letter to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar. Awomolo argued that the Chief Judge’s decision reinstated Justice Nyako as the presiding judge.

 

Kanu’s Rejection and Defense

In response, Ejimakor countered in a letter that Justice Nyako’s recusal order from September 24 remains valid and enforceable. “Our position is based on the fact that Justice Nyako entered and enrolled an order recusing herself on September 24, 2024, and to date, that order remains extant and subsisting. It has not been set aside by any competent court,” Ejimakor argued.

He accused the prosecution of attempting to mislead the court, insisting that Kanu no longer has a case before Justice Nyako.

During the previous court proceedings, Kanu expressed his mistrust in Justice Nyako’s impartiality, citing her alleged failure to enforce a Supreme Court directive. Addressing the court directly, Kanu stated:

“My Lord, I have no confidence in this court anymore and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court. I can understand it if the DSS refused to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the Supreme Court is regrettable.”

Kanu emphasized that his objection was not personal but rooted in his frustration with a trial he believes contravenes constitutional provisions.

 

 

Prosecution’s Position

Awomolo, however, dismissed Kanu’s objections as baseless, urging the court to proceed with the trial. “My Lord, you should not recuse yourself on the basis of this mere observation which does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court. It is an incompetent observation. We urge this court to proceed with the hearing,” he argued.

Kanu responded by presenting a document he claimed was a Supreme Court ruling that questioned the impartiality of the trial court.

Judge’s Decision

 

In the September 24 session, Justice Nyako formally recused herself, declaring:

“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge.”

 

A History of Controversy

Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 upon his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. Detained at the Kuje Correctional Facility, he was granted bail in 2017 on health grounds. However, after a military raid on his home, Kanu fled the country, eventually returning to the UK.

In 2021, he was re-arrested in Kenya under contentious circumstances and extradited to Nigeria, where he has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Repeated applications for bail have been denied by Justice Nyako, fueling tensions between the defense and the prosecution.

What’s Next?

The controversy over Justice Nyako’s role and the Federal Government’s bid to resume the trial continues to unfold. With no formal resolution, Kanu’s trial remains in legal limbo, raising questions about the fairness and impartiality of the judicial process.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Politics

Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

Published

on

Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

 

Acknowledging that the scourge of brazen extortion by miscreants on Lagos streets was on the increase, the Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohunda Moshood Jimoh, and heads of other security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering with the latest security apparatuses, increase surveillance on black spots across the metropolis, and, where necessary, arrest such miscreants, and have the state rehabilitate them.

Lagos Assembly Charges Security Agencies To Redouble Efforts In Combating Extortion By Miscreants

Hon. Sanni Okanlawon (representing Kosofe Constituency 1) raised the alarm at plenary Tuesday, May 6, under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ stating; “The unlawful extortion of stranded and innocent motorists by miscreants remains a growing concern that demands urgent attention. Nobody on the streets of Lagos is immune to their activities. If left unchecked, they could render the state unsafe.” He painted different unsavoury scenarios of how the street urchins operate brazenly, which he described as unacceptable, and called for urgent intervention to protect road users.

Supporting the motion, Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho Constituency II) noted that this particular trend threatens the safety and sanity of road transportation in the state. Hon. Desmond Elliot (Surulere Constituency 1) corroborated this and emphasised the need for active surveillance by security agencies. He also suggested the involvement of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), noting that many of the offenders act under the influence of illegal substances.

Similarly, Hon. Aro Moshood (Ikorodu Constituency II) urged the Commissioner of Police to set up a tactical team dedicated mainly to road monitoring because “It is high time the government took the bull by the horns.” Commending Hon. Okanlawon for moving the motion, Hon. Adebola Shabi (Lagos Mainland Constituency 2) said local government chairmen have a huge role in combating this menace. Effective strategies, she added, have to be devised while recommending the installation of CCTV cameras at identified black spots.

However, Hon. Obafemi Saheed (Kosofe Constituency 2) disclosed that the government has invested heavily in security through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, and, therefore, should not sit back and watch miscreants take over the city.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa commended Hon. Okanlawon and the lawmakers who contributed robustly to the debate. He said that the police and other security agencies, including the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), must collaborate to ensure that Lagos remains safe for residents, commuters, and visitors alike.

Continue Reading

Politics

Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

Published

on

Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

The Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the state Lands Bureau to appear before it to provide clarity on previous allocations and recurring land-related issues. It also approved land compensation for communities where the state government acquired lands for public use.

At plenary last Thursday, the House adopted the recommendations of the Committee on Rules and Business on a petition titled “Application by Oriba Community in Epe Local Government to join in the petition of Ladaba Community” presented by Hon. Noheem Adams.

Lagos Assembly Summons Lands Bureau over Allocations, Recurring Land-Related Issues

Following the presentation of the report, the House unanimously adopted the recommendations as its resolution by asking the bureau to appear before it with proper documents to explain the status of lands acquired by the state. The committee also recommended that the bureau issue excision/allocation letters to the 68 affected communities, while their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) should be ready within one month of the House’s resolution.

Members who lent their voices to the matter commended the committee for ensuring they got justice for the affected communities and suggested that their compensation should be increased from 20% to 25%.

In his summation, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon.. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa acknowledged the need for increased compensation but noted that the state government has its plans. Particularly, he endorsed the allocation of 20% (2,000 hectares) of the 10,000 hectares acquired by the state government as compensation.

Speaker Obasa further recommended that the committee should collaborate with the Lands Bureau, Office of the State Surveyor General, and New Towns Development Authority for the effective implementation of the recommendations.

The Lagos State Lands Bureau is responsible for land administration and management. It oversees key activities such as land allocation, issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), land registration, and the management of state-owned lands.

Its primary goals include ensuring equitable and transparent land transactions, facilitating urban planning, and supporting economic development by maintaining an organized system of land ownership. The bureau also handles disputes related to land and implements policies to optimize land use while protecting public interests.

Continue Reading

Politics

Oluremi Tinubu and Aisha Achimugu: A Bond Forged in Compassion, by Olabode Opeseitan

Published

on

Oluremi Tinubu and Aisha Achimugu: A Bond Forged in Compassion, by Olabode Opeseitan

 

 

Two women with two distinct destinies. One, Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, is a political luminary and steadfast advocate for the marginalized. The other is Aisha Achimugu, a trailblazing entrepreneur who conquered the male-dominated oil and gas sector, yet wears her heart on her sleeve for humanity.

 

 

Oluremi Tinubu and Aisha Achimugu: A Bond Forged in Compassion, by Olabode Opeseitan 

 

Though their paths differ, their souls converge in two profound ways: an unyielding passion for women’s empowerment and a lifelong covenant with charity.

 

 

For Oluremi, empowering women and uplifting the vulnerable is not merely a mission—it’s her oxygen. From founding the New Era Foundation as Lagos’ First Lady to launching her Renewed Hope Initiative as Nigeria’s First Lady—a platform championing youth and girl-child education and spearheading transformative projects like the Community ICT Hub—she has turned biblical compassion into action. Her unalloyed commitment to charitable virtues shone brightly during the commissioning of the hub in Ibadan, a Federal Government collaboration under her RHI that bridges the digital divide for thousands, revealing a heart that beats for the forgotten.

 

 

 

In Aisha Achimugu, Oluremi unknowingly finds a kindred spirit. Aisha’s SAM Empowerment Foundation has illuminated the futures of countless Nigerian girls through scholarships, mentorship, and vocational training, transforming aspirations into tangible opportunities. Her compassion radiates beyond borders, driven by a pan-African vision to uplift communities wherever the need arises. Whether empowering women in Nigeria’s underserved regions or advocating for sustainable livelihoods across the continent, Aisha’s mantra—“When God has blessed you, be a blessing to others”— resounds in every act of service. From rebuilding lives shattered by poverty to fostering dignity through education, her golden heart has become a beacon of hope for Africa’s most vulnerable.

 

 

 

Yet, their journeys have not been without storms. Both women have endured savage media trials—unfairly judged, their reputations scrutinized. Society often forgets: behind the headlines are mothers, leaders, and humanitarians whose “crimes” are loving too fiercely and giving too generously. They are imperfect, as all humans are, but in their relentless generosity, they mirror the very best of what humanity can be.

 

 

 

To Oluremi and Aisha: Your resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to your unbreakable spirits. When cynics question your motives, remember the girls now coding in Ibadan’s ICT Hub, the mothers reclaiming their futures through vocational training, and the orphans who see you as their lifeline. Do not relent. For every life you touch—whether through education, healthcare, or the quiet restoration of dignity—a ripple of hope spreads. Your legacies are not etched in headlines but in healed hearts and transformed destinies.

 

 

We see you. We celebrate you. And we beg you: keep shining.

Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending