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Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has refused an application by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking to be transferred from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a facility in the Federal Capital Territory or nearby Nasarawa State.
Kanu, through the Legal Aid Council, filed an ex parte motion asking the court to order the Nigerian government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to move him either to Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or Keffi in Nasarawa.
Alternatively, he requested a transfer to any custodial facility within the court’s jurisdiction to enable him to pursue his appeal more effectively.
However, Justice Omotosho on Monday declined the request, stating that the application could not be granted without hearing from the Nigerian government.
He ruled that the respondents must be put on notice to respond in the interest of justice before the matter can proceed. The motion is set for hearing on January 27, 2026.
On November 20, the court convicted Kanu on seven terrorism-related charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was moved to the Sokoto facility following concerns over his safety in Kuje, where previous prison breaks had occurred.
Kanu’s legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, later filed a fresh motion seeking his transfer to a custodial centre closer to Abuja, such as Suleja or Keffi.
In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Kanu argued that his detention in Sokoto—over 700 kilometres from Abuja—hindered the preparation of his appeal processes, noting that his relatives and legal team are all based in Abuja.
