The self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu, and his co-defendants, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu have asked Justice James Tsoho of a Federal High Court, Abuja to disqualify himself from trying them on the six-count charge, bordering on treason preferred against them by the federal government.
The defendants, in a motion cited the manifestation of bias against the court, which is also a subject of investigation by the National Judicial Council against the judge.
They alleged that the court had, in the course of its ruling on April 26 2016, openly expressed serious prejudice against a member of the defence team, adding that it will be in the interest of justice for the application to be granted, to preserve the sanctity of the judicial office.
The prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, in his response to the motion, accused the defence of frustrating the trial.
Meanwhile, the second defendant in the case, Benjamin Madubugwu, has engaged the services of a new counsel, Amobi Nzelu, leaving Chuks Muoma to represent the first and the third defendants, Kanu and David Nwawusi respectively.
With the new development, Justice Tsoho, adjourned the case to September 26, 2016 to hear the defendants’ motion and for trial.