Federal High Court Strikes Out Nnamdi Kanu's Motion for Transfer from Sokoto Correctional Facility

Abuja, January 27, 2026 – Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an ex-parte motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the convicted leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility to another facility.

The ruling came on Tuesday after Kanu's counsel from the Legal Aid Council, Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer, applied to withdraw from the case due to irreconcilable differences with the applicant.

Asan informed the court that, since the last adjournment on December 8, 2025, he had maintained regular telephone communication with Kanu's relatives. However, despite repeated promises, they failed to appear at his office to depose to the application.

He further stated that Kanu attempted to dictate the conduct of the case, including instructing what the counsel should say in court. "He wants to write down what I would say while in court. But as an officer of the court, I can't in good faith accept that," Asan told the judge.

Asan added that he consulted his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, who agreed that counsel must handle matters independently and professionally. He invoked Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules to formally withdraw from representing Kanu.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended Asan for upholding the dignity of the court and granted leave for both the counsel and the Legal Aid Council to withdraw from the matter.

The judge held that the ex-parte motion was incompetent, noting that no proof of service on the relevant parties had been presented to the court since the previous sitting in December 2025.

In the interest of justice and fairness, the court directed that other parties be put on notice for any future proceedings. Consequently, Justice Omotosho ordered the motion struck out for lack of competence.

Kanu, who was convicted on terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2025, had sought the transfer, reportedly to a facility closer to Abuja, such as Suleja or Keffi, to facilitate easier access and consultations. The motion's dismissal means he remains at the Sokoto facility pending any new legal steps.