Tension Rises as Nnamdi Kanu Gets Emergency Court Summons In Abuja

This revelation was made by Kanu’s Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, in a statement issued on Friday, February 7, after a routine visit with Kanu’s legal team and family members.

Ejimakor explained that Kanu’s legal team had earlier filed a formal request to have the case—FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015—moved from the Abuja Division to any division of the Federal High Court in the South-East. The application, submitted on January 30, 2025, was based on Order 49, Rule 3 of the Federal High Court Rules (2019) and Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act. This move followed an order issued by Justice Nyako on September 24, 2024, in which she recused herself from the case after Kanu’s oral request during an open court session.

In today’s statement, Ejimakor expressed surprise at the sudden court notice:
“Our discussions focused on the unexpected notice summoning Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to appear in court on Monday, February 10, 2025. We will attend with cautious anticipation.”

Ejimakor further stated that following Justice Nyako’s recusal, the case file was submitted for reassignment to another judge within the Abuja Division. However, none of the judges in the division accepted the case, leading to the file being sent back to Justice Nyako.
“We received a hearing notice scheduling the case before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako on February 10, 2025,” he added.

Kanu’s legal team strongly objected to this development, arguing that Justice Nyako no longer has jurisdiction over the case due to her official recusal.
“We protest the return of this case to Justice Nyako, as her recusal is still in effect under a standing court order,” Ejimakor stressed.

The legal team further argued that since no Abuja-based judge is willing to take the case, the most appropriate action is to transfer it to a Federal High Court division in the South-East, where the alleged offenses occurred. They maintained that this would provide a more appropriate jurisdiction than Abuja.