Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has rejected an application filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Kanu, through the Legal Aid Council, approached the court with an ex-parte application, asking for an order directing the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to immediately relocate him to either the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa.
In the alternative, he requested a transfer to any custodial facility within the court’s jurisdiction, including Suleja or Keffi, to enable him to effectively pursue his appeal.
However, in a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Omotosho declined the request, holding that the court could not grant such an order without first hearing from the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The judge ruled that the respondents must be put on notice and given the opportunity to respond in the interest of justice before any decision could be taken on the request. He subsequently fixed January 27, 2026, for the hearing of the motion.
Kanu was on November 20 found guilty on all seven terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Following his conviction, he was moved to the Sokoto Correctional Facility due to concerns over his safety at Kuje Prison, where previous prison breaks had occurred.
His legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, later filed the motion seeking Kanu’s relocation to a custodial centre closer to Abuja, such as Suleja or Keffi. The application, personally signed by Kanu, asked that it be deemed moved in absentia and sought an order compelling the authorities to effect the transfer.
In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Kanu argued that his detention in Sokoto—over 700 kilometres from Abuja—has made it impracticable for him to properly prepare his notice and record of appeal. He further stressed that all those critical to assisting him, including his relatives, associates, and legal consultants, are based in Abuja.
