Court throws out Nnamdi Kanu’s bid for transfer from Sokoto Prison

Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out an ex-parte application filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, seeking an order for his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility.

The decision was taken during proceedings on Tuesday after Kanu’s lawyer, Demdoo Asan, who is a senior legal officer with the Legal Aid Council, informed the court of his intention to withdraw from the case.

Asan told the court that his decision was based on issues he described as irreconcilable.

He explained that since the matter was last adjourned, he had been in constant telephone communication with members of the applicant’s family, but developments from those interactions made it difficult for him to continue handling the case.

Following the lawyer’s application to withdraw, Justice Omotosho struck out the ex-parte motion seeking Kanu’s transfer from Sokoto, effectively bringing that particular application to an end.

According to him, Kanu’s relatives did not show up at his office to depose to the application, despite phone calls and promises to show up.

He added that Kanu wanted to dictate the tune of the matter and control what counsel would say.

“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,” Demdoo said.

Demdoo added that he consulted with his superiors and they share the same sentiment, stating that as officers of the court, when a matter comes to them, they will handle the matter as the they see fit, else the applicant can find legal help somewhere else

On that note, he invoked Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules, seeking to withdraw from the matter.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended the counsel for upholding the dignity of the court.

Justice Omotosho held that having listened to counsel from the Legal Aid Council, he will grant leave for the counsel, and the agency generally, to withdraw from representing the defendant convict.

He added that the motion was incompetent.

“In the interest of justice and fairness, this court directed that other parties involved in the matter be served on notice.

“But since the last court sitting, 8th December, 2025, until today, 27th January, 2026, there is no prove of service before this court,” the judge said.

He thereafter ordered that the motion ex-parte be struck out for lacking competence.

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