The case involving the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has taken a fresh turn as the judiciary has reassigned his trial to a new judge. This development comes amid continued legal battles between Kanu’s defense team and the federal government over the terrorism charges leveled against him.
The new judge, whose identity was revealed on Monday, is expected to take over the case following allegations of bias leveled against the previous judge by Kanu’s legal representatives. Kanu has remained in detention since he was re-arrested and extradited to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021, despite multiple court rulings ordering his release.
His legal team has consistently argued that his fundamental rights have been violated, citing the United Nations Human Rights Council’s stance that his continued detention is illegal under international law. Meanwhile, the federal government insists that Kanu must face trial for charges that include treason, terrorism, and inciting violence through his agitation for Biafra’s independence.
The reassignment of the case to a new judge is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the legal proceedings, but many supporters of the IPOB leader remain skeptical about the fairness of the Nigerian judicial system in handling his trial.