Leader of secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu’s trial scheduled for Monday was stalled with the withdrawal of Justice John Tsoho from presiding over the matter.
Upon the resumption of hearing in the matter at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, Justice Tsoho announced his intention to withdraw, making him the second judge to so wash his hands off Nnamdi Kanu’s trial.
Before now, Justice Ahmed Mohammed stepped down from hearing the case after Kanu said he had no confidence in the judge’s ability to be fair and to do justice.
In similar circumstances, Kanu accused Justice Tsoho of bias, basing his argument on the judge’s ruling allowing some form of protection for the prosecution’s witnesses after initially refusing the same application.
According to Premium Times, the pro-Biafra group leader forwarded a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) in which he accused Justice Tsoho of “judicial rascality” and called for his investigation by the council.
The petition was signed by Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who made it available to journalists.
In the petition, Kanu’s lawyer asked the NJC, a foremost regulatory body for judges across the country, to investigate Justice Tsoho for giving parallel judgements on the same request.
Ejiofor argued that Justice Tsoho ruled in favour of Kanu when the application for witness protection was brought before him and subsequently changed his ruling to favour the prosecution without the matter having gone to an appellate court.
On Monday, Kanu was represented by another lawyer, Chuks Muoma, who directed the attention of the court to the petition before the NJC and said the continuation of the matter by Justice Tsoho would amount to a great disservice.
Justice Tsoho thereafter announced that he had stepped down, pending the decision of the council.
“Even if I am cleared of any bias by the NJC, I will not continue with this case,” the judge said.
The implication of the judge’s withdrawal is that the case will have to be reassigned to another judge of the Federal High Court and Nnamdi Kanu’s trial begins afresh. All processes filed thus far and any progress made on the case whatsoever has to be discountenanced.
It also means that Kanu will remain in prison custody as he is facing trial for treasonable felony and was denied bail.
0 comments:
Post a Comment