The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an ex parte motion filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to another custodial facility.
Justice James Omotosho gave the ruling on Tuesday after counsel from the Legal Aid Council handling the matter applied to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences with the applicant.
Kanu was convicted on November 20, 2025, on terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment, a judgment his family has rejected while indicating plans to appeal. Following the verdict, the court ordered his transfer to the Sokoto Correctional Centre, ruling that the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja was unsuitable for his incarceration.
Subsequently, on December 8, 2025, Kanu filed an ex parte motion requesting relocation to a custodial facility closer to the Federal Capital Territory, proposing Suleja in Niger State or Keffi in Nasarawa State as alternatives.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel from the Legal Aid Council, Demdoo Asan, informed the court that efforts to regularise the application had failed due to the absence of Kanu’s relatives, who were required to depose to supporting affidavits.
According to him, repeated attempts were made to reach the applicant’s family, but none appeared despite assurances.
He further told the court that the applicant was attempting to control how the case was being conducted, including dictating what counsel should say in court, a situation he described as unacceptable and incompatible with his duties as an officer of the court.
Asan said that after consulting with senior officials of the Legal Aid Council, a collective decision was taken to withdraw from the case, stressing that a detained client could not direct legal proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended the counsel for upholding professional standards and granted the application for the Legal Aid Council to withdraw from representing Kanu.
The judge subsequently struck out the ex parte motion, describing it as incompetent. He noted that although the court had earlier directed that relevant parties be served in the interest of justice, there was no proof of service before the court since the last adjourned date.
“Having listened to counsel from the Legal Aid Council, I grant leave for the withdrawal of representation. The motion before the court is incompetent, and there is no evidence of service on the parties concerned since December 8, 2025,” Justice Omotosho ruled.
