Sokoto Prison: Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s Transfer Request
Sokoto Prison, Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s Transfer Request. The legal battle surrounding the detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader took a dramatic turn on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as Nnamdi Kanu loses prison transfer bid at a Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice James Omotosho officially struck out an ex parte motion filed by the convicted activist, which sought his immediate relocation from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a facility within or nearer to the Federal Capital Territory.
The ruling leaves Kanu in the northwestern facility, far from his legal team and associates, following a series of procedural failures and a startling rift within his own defense team.
Kanu, who was convicted on terrorism related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, had argued that his current confinement in Sokoto (over 700 kilometers from Abuja) severely hampered his ability to prosecute his appeal. His legal team had suggested a transfer to Suleja or Keffi custodial centers to facilitate easier access for consultations.
However, the court found the application fundamentally flawed, citing a lack of proper service to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The proceedings were marked by a high stakes professional fallout. Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer from the Legal Aid Council representing Kanu, stunned the court by applying to withdraw from the case. Asan cited “irreconcilable differences,” alleging that Kanu had attempted to micromanage his defense to an unprofessional degree.
According to the counsel, the IPOB leader sought to dictate the exact wording of his court submissions, a move Asan described as an affront to his status as an officer of the court.
“He wants to write down what I would say while in court. But, as an officer of the court, I cannot in good faith accept that,” Asan told the judge.
Furthermore, the lawyer revealed that despite constant communication, Kanu’s relatives had failed to appear at the Legal Aid office to depose to the necessary affidavits required for the application. Justice Omotosho commended the lawyer for “upholding the dignity of the court” before granting the request for the Legal Aid Council to step down from the representation.
In his final ruling on the motion, Justice Omotosho declared the ex parte application incompetent. The judge noted that since the matter sought to “compel” government agencies, the law requires those parties to be put on notice to allow for a fair response.
Despite a previous adjournment specifically granted to allow for this service, the court confirmed there was no proof of service on the Federal Government or the NCoS as of the Tuesday hearing.
The court also pointed out a significant technical defect in the overall appeal process: Kanu’s notice of appeal had been filed on November 10, ten days before the actual judgment was delivered on November 20. Consequently, the court held that there was currently no valid appeal before it to justify the “urgent” transfer request.
While this ruling maintains the status quo of Kanu’s imprisonment in Sokoto, it does not permanently bar future applications if filed correctly through a motion on notice. For now, the IPOB leader remains in the Sokoto facility (where he was originally moved due to safety concerns at Abuja’s Kuje prison) while he seeks new legal representation to navigate his high stakes appeal against his life sentence.