Federal High Court Denies Report of New Judge Stepping Down from Nnamdi Kanu’s Case

The Federal High Court (FHC) has dismissed a viral social media report claiming that the newly assigned judge in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has stepped down. The court described the report as false and misleading.

The viral claim, titled “New Judge Steps Down from Nnamdi Kanu’s Case, Says His Arrest Was Wrong,” alleged that Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the FHC, was the new judge in the case and had withdrawn from it. The report stated: “Justice John Tsoho, the new judge assigned to Nnamdi Kanu’s case, has quit. He said Kanu was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya illegally and, for that reason, he cannot preside over the case without compromising his own beliefs.”

However, in an official statement signed by the Chief Registrar, Sulaiman Hassan, the FHC debunked the claims, calling them “entirely unfounded, fictitious, grossly mischievous, and damaging in intent.” The statement further clarified:

"The Federal High Court categorically refutes the false and misleading claim that the Honourable Chief Judge, Justice John T. Tsoho, OFR, has stepped down from Nnamdi Kanu’s case or made any statements regarding the legality of his arrest."

Hassan emphasized that Justice Tsoho, in his capacity as Chief Judge, only reassigned the case from Justice Binta Nyako to a new judge and has not personally taken over the case.

"The report is completely false. The defense team should prepare to receive directives from the newly assigned judge in due course," the statement added.

The FHC also cautioned against the spread of misinformation intended to mislead the public and erode trust in the judiciary. It urged the public to rely on verified information from official court sources.

Following Justice Nyako’s recusal from the case, the trial has now been reassigned to Justice James Omotosho. Kanu’s legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed on Saturday that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja had officially assigned a new judge to handle the case.

Kanu is facing a seven-count charge of treasonable felony filed by the Federal Government. Initially arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako, he had requested that she recuse herself from the case, leading to the reassignment.