Justice John Tsoho, the judge handling Nnamdi Kanu’s trial, has returned
the case file to Ibrahim Auta, chief justice of federal high court, for
reassignment.
This was sequel to an application by the legal team of Kanu led by Chuks
Muoma, claiming that the court was biased in its handling of the matter.
“We are only asking the court to hands off; my client has lost confidence
in this court,” he said.
He claimed that the court was acting in line with the suggestion of
President Muhammadu Buhari that Kanu was not going to be released under
any circumstance.
The counsel said that if they did not get the relief they sought, they
would proceed to the International Court of Justice.
Muoma said any proceedings in the case, following the claim that a
petition was written to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to protest
against the court, would “stifle it”.
“I understand that there is a letter to NJC, though I haven’t seen it and
the CJ has replied saying that the matter will be investigated,” he said.
“I would urge you that you transfer the matter; I would suggest that it be
sent back to the CJ.”
Responding, the judge said: “I have no interest in trying your matter and
I will return it to the CJ, but I will condemn the attitude of that
counsel. I do not care if you take your case to another planet.”
He said that making a ruling on the said application was an attempt to
“pre-empt” the outcome of the petition sent by Kanu’s lawyers to the CJ.
However, in a ruling, the judge who prevented the prosecuting counsel from
speaking, said: “This case is hereby transferred to the CJ.”