By Suleiman Anyalewechi
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed hearing for Wednesday December 4, 2025, on a motion ex-parte filed by the convicted leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, seeking to be transferred out of the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The Source reports that Kanu was on Thursday November 20, 2025, convicted and sentenced to life in jail by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on a seven count charge bordering on terrorism and other related Offences preferred against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He was, subsequently, relocated to the Sokoto State Custodial Centre after the judge had specifically ruled out Kuje, Abuja Correctional Centre.
Prior to his conviction and sentencing, the IPOB’s Leader was kept at the Abuja Headquaters of the Department of State Service, DSS, facility.
Before fixing the date for the hearing of the notice, presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho refused to either accord attention or audience to Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, who had sought to move the motion on behalf of the IPOB leader.
The younger Kanu had announced his appearance for the absentee leader of IPOB, despite not being a legal practitioner.
But in rejecting Emmanuel Kanu’s request, Justice Omotosho insisted that he should engage the services of lawyers to move the motion.
“This ex-parte motion cannot be moved on the convict’s behalf because you are not a legal practitioner.
“You can engage the services of a legal practitioner, or approach the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria for legal representation since the law allows it.
“When I said representation, it is not his (Kanu’s) brother, father, sister or relations. I mean his Counsel.
“I am not going to the merit of this application now in the interest of justice. But you cannot represent a human being when you are not a lawyer. You can only represent a corporate body.
“Therefore, you cannot move the application because you are not a Solicitor or Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“For you to be qualified as a lawyer, it will take you another six years or thereabout. So get a Counsel to move the application”,
Justice Omotosho insisted.
Kanu, in his application, had adduced the long distance from Sokoto to Abuja to prosecute his case as among the reasons for seeking transfer.
He averred that he is currently serving jail term at a facility which is over 700 kilometers from Abuja where he has filed his appeal.
“On the 21st of November, 2025, the applicant was transferred to, and is currently detained at the Sokoto Correctional facility which is over 700 kilometers from Abuja.
“The applicant, who is currently unrepresented by Counsel, intends to personally exercise his constitutional right of appeal against the conviction and sentencing.
“The preparation of the notice of appeal and record of appeal requires personal interface with the Registrar of this Honourable Court, and the Court of Appeal Abuja.
“All persons critical to assisting the applicant in preparing his appeal, including his relatives, associates and legal consultants are based in Abuja.
“The applicant’s continued detention in Sokoto renders his constitutional right to appeal impracticable, occasioning exceptional hardship and potentially defeating the said right, in violation of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended)”, Kanu stated.
In the motion ex-parte which was personally signed by him, Emmanuel had sought an order from the Court permitting him to move the said motion in the face of the unavoidable absence of Nnamdi Kanu at the Court.
It will be recalled that the IPOB’s leader, towards the twilight of his trial, had jettisoned the services of his lawyers, preferring, instead, to defend himself, despite contrary views and advice from the Justice Omotosho.
The motion seeks among other things an order of the Court directing the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Correctional Service to immediately transfer Kanu from Sokoto custodial centre to within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.
In the alternative, however, the IPOB leader is seeking an order of the Court transferring him to the Court’s ” immediate environs, such as the Suleja, or Keffi Custodial Centre for the purpose of enabling the applicant ( Kanu) to effectively prosecute his constitutionally guaranteed right of appeal.
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