Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday stepped down in the trial of former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, by the Federal Government.
At the resumed hearing, the Judge told parties in the matter that she was returning the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another Judge. However, she gave no reason for her action.
Speaking outside the courtroom, one of the defence counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), said he was surprised to hear about the development. According to him, although the Judge did not give reasons for the decision, his client is ever ready for the trial any time the case is re-assigned.
Moro and three others are facing 11-count charge bordering on their roles in the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service job exercise, which led to the death of at least 16 job seekers.