The ongoing legal battle surrounding Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), intensifies as the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order for his appearance on Monday, February 10, 2025, despite his legal team’s repeated calls for the trial to be moved to the South-East.

Justice Binta Nyako issued the hearing notice, which read: “Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 – Hearing notice between the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Plaintiff) and Nnamdi Kanu (Defendant).

This case will be transferred from the general cause list to the hearing paper for Monday, the 10th day of February 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the forenoon.” The notice further clarified that any party wishing to postpone the hearing must apply to the court promptly.

The Federal Government has maintained that the trial should proceed as scheduled in Abuja, while Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, is pressing for a change in venue and challenging the continued role of Justice Nyako in the case.

Kanu’s legal team expressed strong reservations over the judge’s involvement, given her prior recusal. Last September, Kanu had requested that Justice Nyako step down due to a loss of confidence in her handling of the proceedings, which she had granted.

However, the case was later transferred back to Nyako for continuation, a decision that Kanu’s lawyers argue undermines the integrity of the judiciary.

Ejimakor criticized the move, saying, “A recusal is binding,” and asserting that Nyako’s involvement compromises the fairness of the trial.

In addition, Kanu’s legal team formally requested on January 30, 2025, that the case be relocated to a South-East division of the Federal High Court.

“The alleged offences have an impact in the South-East, not in Abuja,” the petition read. “This gives the South-East divisions superior jurisdiction compared to Abuja.”