The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to a new judge.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed this development in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that Kanu had sought the recusal of Justice Binta Nyako from presiding over the seven-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government. Following her withdrawal, the case file was initially returned to the Chief Judge but was later reassigned to her—a decision that Kanu strongly opposed.

Subsequently, on February 20, Kanu’s legal team petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting her intervention.

Ejimakor, in his statement, revealed that the legal team received two official letters regarding the case on Friday, March 7.

He said, “Yesterday, before our routine visitation to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we received two separate letters. One was from the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria in response to our request for administrative intervention, while the other was from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, notifying us that the case has been reassigned to another judge.”

Following this development, Ejimakor noted that Kanu had directed his legal team to publicly express his gratitude to the CJN for her swift administrative response.

Kanu also extended his appreciation to members of the public who supported the demand for his case to be reassigned, as required by law, the statement added.

While reaffirming Kanu’s readiness to stand trial, Ejimakor highlighted the legal battles that followed Justice Nyako’s recusal in September 2024. He stressed that these challenges threatened Kanu’s constitutional right to a fair and speedy trial, necessitating urgent intervention.

“Now that the authorities have taken the initial steps to uphold the law, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his legal team will take stock and focus on a zealous preparation for his defence,” Ejimakor stated.