The application that Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu made to have himself transferred from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility in the Federal Capital Territory or neighboring Nasarawa State was denied by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja.
Kanu petitioned the court through the Legal Aid Council for an ex parte order directing the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to transfer him from Sokoto to either Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa without further delay.
Channels TV adds that he also requested to be relocated to any of the prisons under the court’s authority, including Keffi and Suleja, so that he could better pursue his appeal.
But today, Justice James Omotosho turned down the motion, saying that the federal government needed to be consulted before such an order could be granted.
The motion could not be granted until the Federal Government and NCoS were given notice, according to Justice Omotosho. This was necessary so that they may reply appropriately in the interest of justice.
The hearing of the motion was then set for January 27, 2026, by him.
The court handed down his life sentence on November 20th after finding him guilty on all seven federal terrorism counts.
Concerns about Kanu’s safety at Kuje, where there had been records of prior jail breakouts, led to his transfer to the Sokoto correctional facility.
Subsequently, his legal advisor Aloy Ejimakor moved the Federal High Court’s Justice James Omotosho to transfer him from Sokoto to a prison near Abuja, such Suleja or Keffi.
With his own handwriting on the document, Kanu requested that the transfer be enforced by the federal government or the Nigerian Correctional Service and that it be considered moved in absentia.
In the motion filed FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Kanu stated eight reasons why it was impractical for him to draft his notice of appeal and record of appeal while detained in Sokoto, which is more than 700 kilometers away from Abuja.
He emphasized that in Abuja he has all the people who are crucial to his support, including families, friends, and legal advisors.
About the Author
