The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed on February 10, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice Binta Nyako presiding.

The trial had been paused after Kanu requested that Justice Nyako step down, citing a lack of confidence in her ability to fairly handle his case.

In September 2024, Justice Nyako had agreed to the recusal order and returned Kanu’s case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho. However, Tsoho sent the case file back to Nyako, saying that Kanu’s request needed to be made through a formal motion.

At the court on February 10, Kanu arrived for his trial, and his brother, Kanunta, shared a video of the moment. Justice Nyako clarified that the Chief Judge had not formally accepted her recusal.

She told Kanu’s defense team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, that they should submit a written application if they still wanted her to withdraw from the case.