Nnamdi Kanu Confronts Justice Binta Nyako in Court: “You Stand Recused; You Are Very Biased”

Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday, openly criticized Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He also accused the Nigerian prosecution and the Chief Judge of the High Court of disregarding a court order that had recused Justice Nyako from his case.

During the heated courtroom session, Kanu expressed strong disapproval of Justice Nyako’s insistence on presiding over his trial, despite the ruling that disqualified her. He accused her of bias, alleging that she had been closely associating with lawyers and other justices, and described her insistence on handling his case as shameful.

Furthermore, Kanu turned his anger toward the prosecution counsel, claiming that he was acting improperly due to financial incentives. He alleged that the counsel was being paid N300 million from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and that this influenced his actions in court.

“I have a court order. You have recused yourself. Anyone who disagrees with this order should go to the Court of Appeal. That’s what you always tell me,” Kanu declared.

He continued, “You have been recused. You cannot preside over this case again—not now, not tomorrow, not ever.”

Kanu insisted that the prosecution could not compel the court to continue with the case under Justice Nyako. “Not today, not ever. You stand recused.”

Directing his words at the Chief Judge, he added, “Tell the Chief Judge, Nnamdi Kanu said go on appeal. I recused you from my case. The state recused Justice Adema, and they did not insist that he must handle my case. So why must you insist?”

Kanu strongly objected to Justice Nyako’s involvement, saying, “I don’t want you to hear my case. I don’t need you. You are biased. You cannot be in my case. You cannot be associating with lawyers and justices while presiding over a case. It is disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful.”

He further denounced the court, claiming, “This is not a court of law; it is a shrine of injustice. I will not subject myself to it. You stand recused, and you must leave my case.”

Referring to the judicial process, he argued, “There is an order of recusal, and she is a Senior Advocate for goodness’ sake. Isn’t that the rule of law? If you disagree with this, you go on appeal.”

Kanu did not spare the prosecution either. “You are a grown man, yet because of N300 million, you are behaving like a child. Go on appeal. You are holding onto injustice because of money from the AGF’s office.”

He urged the prosecution counsel to act with integrity, stating, “Behave like a man of honor. The rule of law says you should go on appeal. Justice Binta Nyako cannot try my case, not in this world. I am telling you now, so stop wasting your time.”

The IPOB leader also questioned the Chief Judge’s actions. “An order of the court says Justice Binta Nyako is recused. Yet, the Chief Judge is writing a ridiculous memo. I recused him when he sat on appeal, and I took him to the NJC. He didn’t insist on handling my case, so why is he insisting now? Does he want to embarrass her?”

When the prosecution objected to his remarks about the judge, Kanu shot back, “If you insult yourself, I will insult you. If you have no respect for yourself, I will insult you. You people are manipulating the law. When it concerns Nnamdi Kanu, you turn the law upside down.”

He continued, “The law says this paper is white, but you say it is black. When it says black, you say it is white. Is that the law? As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is that law? Can a memo from the Chief Judge override a court order? Why do you want to change the law in my case?”

Kanu insisted that Justice Nyako remained recused and could not preside over his trial. “People without shame,” he remarked.

Quoting the National Judicial Policy of Nigeria, he stated, “‘In the performance of judicial functions, a judge is subject only to the law and must only consider the law. A judge must not take or attempt to take orders or instructions from anyone, including the Chief Judge, that may influence their decisions.’”

He concluded by reaffirming the principle of the rule of law. “In every common law jurisdiction, once a court order is made, the only way to set it aside is by going on appeal. You are a Senior Advocate, and you don’t know this?”

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