The Federal High Court judge, Justice Binta Nyako, who is currently dragging the Nigerian judiciary in the mud over Nnamdi Kanu’s (leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB) case, was appointed by Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian President, a man who had in 1983, through a coup, committed treason without being convicted nor charged till date. This appointment followed after Justice John Tsoho, another notorious and corrupt judge, the first judge to overrule his previous order, was muscled out of Nnamdi Kanu’s case on grounds of incompetence.
Justice Tsoho bowed out of Nnamdi Kanu’s case on September 26, 2016 owing to the relentless demand by Nnamdi Kanu’s defence team on him to rule on the basis of justice, equity and fairness.
After the installation of Justice Binta Nyako by the Dictator and head of the Nigerian State to preside over the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the Indigenous People Of Biafra has continued to draw the attention of the world to the efforts by Justice Binta to conduct a secret trial against Nnamdi Kanu and consequently deny him justice.
Attempts by Justice Binta to deny Nnamdi Kanu fair hearing became unarguably evident when she adopted the same old ‘secret trial’ pranks which was initiated by Justice Tsoho; which is a mockery not only to the judiciary, but to the well meaning judges like F. A Ademola who never staggered but stood for justice without fear or favour when he granted Nnamdi Kanu an unconditional release on December 17, 2015 at the Federal High Court Abuja.
“The court is mine I can do as please” was one of Justice Binta’s arrogant statements in court which reflected her willingness to disregard the rule of law in delivering judgement. It can only happen in Nigeria, that a court of law becomes a personal property of a judge called to preside over a particular case; in which case, the judge rules based personal sentiment over the given case.
Consequently, Justice Binta has further intensified efforts to convict Nnamdi Kanu unjustly by suggesting Sharia Law as the standard on which she will deliver judgement. Though Justice Binta is aware that Nnamdi Kanu can never be tried under Sharia law, IPOB has condemned her moves as efforts to keep Nnamdi Kanu incarcerated and frustrate his trial.
It was crystal clear and has been proven beyond every reasonable doubt that Nnamdi Kanu pose no threat to Muhammadu Buhari’s administration nor the Nigerian government except for speaking out against the injustice meted out on Biafrans since the unfortunate amalgamation of 1914. Nnamdi Kanu is a freedom fighter clamouring for the restoration of Biafra and emphasizing/expressing his legitimate rights for self determination as enshrined in the United Nations’ Charter which Nigeria is a signatory to. Muhammadu Buhari has also been seen and heard acknowledging and supporting this right to self determination when he recently called for the independence of Palestine and Western Sahara.
However, recent events have proved that Justice Binta Nyako lacks the full understanding of the right to self determination and its application. Her incompetence and misconduct has disesteemed the Nigerian judiciary to almost an irredeemable state.
Her efforts to please Muhammadu Buhari, who swore never to release Nnamdi Kanu no matter the court rulings during a media chat, have rather necessitated the need to investigate the mysterious death of Justice Evoh Chukwu, a High Court judge presiding over her husband and son’s fraud case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
With these in mind, IPOB warns that there is a limit we can be pushed. It took the Nigerian judiciary 17 months to realize that IPOB is a legal body and is taking them much more than that to obey court orders that ruled for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
April 25, 2017 is another day the court will deliberate on Nnamdi Kanu’s case. Justice Binta has the choice to uphold the rule of law and honour existing court orders or continue in her show of shame. Some things are certain: Nnamdi Kanu’s defence team will remain resilient, Nnamdi Kanu will be free and every judge that has frustrated his trial must be held accountable.
By Anyikwa Kelechi Cynthia
For Biafra Writers
