A judge holds enormous powers in both civil and common laws criminal justice systems. Because this power is disproportionately large compared to both the criminal defense lawyer and the Prosecutor, a defendant has the right to trial by an impartial, unsentimental and unbiased judge. A judge also has the onerous responsibility to take affirmative actions to erase the appearance of impropriety or biases.
One is said to be guilty having committed an offense, crime, violation, or any wrong doing, especially against the moral or penal law; justly subject to a certain accusation or penalty culpable which it has not been established of Nnamdi Kanu’s culpability or being guilty of the charges, not responsible for or directly. Not involved in an event yet suffering its consequences is referred to as being innocent.
The detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu who has pleaded not guilty of the treasonable felony as charged dared Justice Binta Nyako, saying, “Be the first to convict Nnamdi Kanu if your husband Murtala Nyako is not guilty of criminal charges by the EFCC”.Justice Binta Nyako the trial judge on Kanu’s case is actually President Buhari’s sister, whose husband, the former governor of Adamawa state, Murtala Nyako was accused of corruption and money laundry charges alongside his son Abdul-Aziz.
On this ground, Buhari through his secret dogs, the DSS, threatened Justice Nyako with constant warning letters accompanied with blackmail which read thus “Jail Nnamdi Kanu despite his being innocent or have your husband’s criminal case revisited”.
It was on the account of this threat that Justice Binta Nyako, on persuasions by President Buhari to jail an innocent man, deviated and denied granting Kanu bail on 1st December 2016, as earlier stated in her last proceedings. She also proceeded to grant the request by the Federal government to conduct a secret trial on 13th December.
It should be noted that Nnamdi Kanu has been acquitted twice by two competent jurors but the President flouted those orders and continued to keep him in detention. Justice Binta instead of involving herself in the miscarriage of justice, should shun tyranny and rescind her decisions.
Justice Nyako should first cast the stone she was mandated by the dictator Muhammadu Buhari to unleash on innocent Nnamdi Kanu to his gross misconduct and corrupt husband and son, Murtala and Abdul Nyako who was found culpable of their offenses by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Justice is not for sale, therefore, Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom is not for sale either and cannot be exchanged for favors. The judiciary should stand firm on its ground to defend the common man they swore to protect.
Men of goodwill, the international community, sympathizers of the oppressed across the globe have been alerted and keenly watching on the conduct of the trial judge, Binta Nyako. A stitch in time saves nine.
Written By Cynthia Anyikwa
Edited By Meruonna Chukwuemeka
