By Nworisa Michael
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out an application by Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which sought his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility to a custodial centre nearer to the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice James Kolawole Omotosho delivered the ruling on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, dismissing the ex-parte motion as incompetent after Kanu’s legal representative from the Legal Aid Council, Demdoo Asan, applied to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences.
In court proceedings, the lawyer informed the judge that repeated efforts to secure support from Kanu’s relatives who were expected to depose to an affidavit backing the application had not materialized despite ongoing telephone communications. The lawyer also said that Kanu had attempted to direct how the case should be handled in court, which he argued was incompatible with his professional duties.
Justice Omotosho commended the counsel for maintaining the dignity of the court, granted leave for the withdrawal, and affirmed that the motion lacked competence. The judge noted that there was no proof of service on the respondents, including the Nigerian Correctional Service, which is a procedural requirement for such applications.
The motion was therefore struck out, with the court directing that any future application should ensure that all relevant parties are properly served to allow for fair hearing.
Kanu, who was convicted and sentenced in late 2025 on charges tied to terrorism-related offences, had argued that his continued detention more than 700 kilometres from Abuja hindered his ability to prepare his appeal effectively and interface with court registries, legal counsel, and relatives based in the capital. However, the court declined to grant the requested transfer on procedural grounds.
The ruling concludes this round of legal effort without granting the requested relocation, but the matter may return to court if properly resubmitted following the due process of service and fair hearing.