The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected Nnamdi Kanu’s request to be transferred from Sokoto prison to a facility closer to Abuja. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the application was incompetent and couldn’t be entertained, citing that Kanu’s lawyer hadn’t properly served the necessary parties.
“To the application itself, the motion was incompetent. However, in the interest of justice and fairness, this court directed that other parties involved in the matter be served with notice. But since the last court sitting, December 8, 2025, until today, January 27, there is no proof of service before this court,” Justice Omotosho said.
Kanu had argued that being detained in Sokoto, over 700 kilometers from Abuja, hindered his ability to effectively appeal his life sentence.
Kanu’s legal team has vowed to appeal the decision, describing the ruling as “procedural theatre” and claiming that the detention in Sokoto is a “silent exposure” of the alleged charade. The team insists that the appeal is unavoidable and will proceed to the Court of Appeal.
Nnamdi Kanu, was the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a group that seeks to secede from Nigeria and become a sovereign, was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20 on the conviction of terrorism – related offence.
