Why Court Rejected Kanu’s Prison Transfer Bid
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility.
The decision came on Tuesday during proceedings before Justice James Omotosho.
The application collapsed after Kanu’s lawyer, Demdoo Asan of the Legal Aid Council, announced his withdrawal from the case. At the resumed hearing, Asan told the court he could no longer continue due to irreconcilable differences with his client, a move the judge later approved.
Asan explained that efforts to complete the application stalled after Kanu’s relatives failed to visit the Legal Aid Council office to depose to required documents despite repeated communication.
He also revealed that Kanu attempted to control how the case should be argued in court, including dictating statements to be read by counsel.
He wants to write down what I would say while in court. But as an officer of the court, I cannot, in good faith, accept that. Asan said consultations with his superiors led to a collective decision to step aside, adding that legal representatives must be allowed to conduct cases professionally or withdraw.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended the lawyer for upholding ethical standards and granted permission for the Legal Aid Council to withdraw.
The judge further ruled that the ex parte motion seeking Kanu’s transfer was incompetent due to lack of service on relevant parties since the last hearing in December 2025, and struck it out.
Kanu, who was convicted on seven terrorism-related charges in November 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment, was later moved from Abuja to Sokoto Prison, a transfer his legal consultant has described as a threat to his right to appeal.
