(By Godwin Tsa – ABUJA)
The prosecution of leader of separatist movement Indigenous People of Biafra suffered a major setback Monday when a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja Justice John Tsoho returned his case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Ibrahim Auta for reassignment.
This comes after the judge washed his hands off the case on the strength of a petition against him before the National Judicial Council NJC by the detained Director of Radio Biafra, accusing him of bias.
Justice Tsoho is the second judge from the bench of the Federal High Court accused by Kanu of bias in the handling of his trial. The first was Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same division of the court.
Kanu is standing trial with Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi on a six-count charge of treasonable felony, brought against them by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
When the case was called Monday, Kanu’s lead counsel Chuks Muoma brought an application wherein he claimed that the court had shown bias in the manner it has so far conducted the trial.
He told the court that based on that premise his client has forwarded a petition to the NJC, adding that it will only be proper for the court to suspend hearing of the case pending the outcome of investigation by the Council.
