The legal team of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has confirmed that his case has been officially reassigned to a new judge, ending a six-month delay in legal proceedings.
According to a statement signed by his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor made available to ABN TV on Saturday, the development follows two official correspondences received by the legal team—one from the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria and the other from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
Ejimakor explained that the Chief Justice’s response came after the legal team formally requested administrative intervention in ensuring a lawful reassignment of the case. The request followed the recusal of the previous judge in September 2024, which had stalled Kanu’s trial. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court subsequently confirmed the reassignment.
Reacting to the news, Kanu expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice for her prompt intervention and commended members of the public who supported the demand for his case to be reassigned in accordance with the law.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has always been ready to stand trial because he is firmly convinced of his innocence. However, the events of the past six months posed significant threats to his constitutional rights, particularly his right to a fair and speedy hearing,” the statement read.
The legal team affirmed that with this latest development, they would now focus on preparing Kanu’s defense as they await the next legal proceedings.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021, faces charges bordering on alleged treason and terrorism-related offenses, which he has consistently denied.