Court Declines Kanu’s Request for Transfer From Sokoto Prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an ex parte application filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking a transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility within the Federal Capital Territory or nearby Nasarawa State.

Kanu, through the Legal Aid Council, had approached the court requesting an order directing the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to move him from the Sokoto facility to either the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa. In the alternative, he sought relocation to any other prison within the court’s jurisdiction, such as Suleja or Keffi, to enable him to effectively pursue his pending appeal.

However, Justice James Omotosho declined to grant the request, ruling that the order could not be issued without hearing from the Federal Government. The judge directed Kanu to convert the ex parte motion into a motion on notice and serve all relevant parties to ensure fair hearing.

Justice Omotosho thereafter adjourned the case to January 27, 2026, for hearing of the motion.