The Federal High Court has dismissed reports suggesting that the newly assigned judge in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, has stepped down from the case.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Registrar, Sulaiman Hassan, the court described the reports as “false and misleading.”
An online publication had claimed that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, was assigned to Kanu’s case but withdrew, allegedly citing the illegality of his arrest.
However, Hassan refuted this claim, calling it “entirely unfounded, fictitious, grossly mischievous, damaging in intent and should be disregarded in its entirety.”
“The attention of the management of the Federal High Court has been drawn, with great concern, to an online reportage making such claims,” Hassan stated.
“The court unequivocally refutes the false and misleading report, alleging that the Honourable Chief Judge, Hon. Justice John T. Tsoho, OFR, has stepped down from Nnamdi Kanu’s case and made statements regarding the legality of his arrest.”
He clarified that Justice Tsoho, in his capacity as Chief Judge, had reassigned the case from Justice Binta Nyako to a new judge.
“The report referred to is, therefore, totally spurious,” he added. “The defence team should hence prepare to receive instructions regarding the case, as may be issued by the new judge.”
Hassan further warned against the spread of misinformation, emphasizing the importance of relying on verified court sources.
“The Federal High Court strongly cautions against deliberate misinformation aimed at misleading the public and eroding confidence in the judicial system. We urge the general public to be wary and rely only on verified information from official court sources,” he said.
