John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stepped down
from the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Mr. Tsoho is the second judge
to do so.
Mr. Kanu is facing treason
charges brought by the Nigerian government for leading a separatist group.
He has been in detention since
October 2015.
The first judge in the case,
Ahmed Mohammed, stepped down in December 2015, after Mr. Kanu said he had no
confidence in him.
In a new petition to the
National Judicial Council, Mr. Kanu accused Justice Tsoho of "judicial
rascality" and called for his investigation by the council.
In the petition made available
to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Mr. Kanu through his lawyer, Ifeanyi
Ejiofor, asked the council to investigate Mr. Tsoho for giving parallel
judgements on the same request.
Mr. Ejiofor said after Mr.
Tsoho decided in favour of the defence in an application for the protection of
witnesses by the prosecution, and later ruled in favour of the prosecution,
without seeking the permission of a higher court.
At the opening of session on
Monday, another counsel to Mr. Kanu, Chuks Muoma, said the continuation of the
matter by Mr. Tsoho would amount to a great disservice since there was a
petition against him, before the NJC.
Mr. Tsoho announced he had
stepped down, pending the decision of the council.
"Even if I am cleared of
any bias by the NJC, I will not continue with this case," said Mr. Tsoho.
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