The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out an ex parte motion filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
Justice James Omotosho struck out the motion after counsel from the Legal Aid Council handling the matter applied to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences with the applicant.
PUNCH Online reports that Kanu was convicted of terrorism-related offences on November 20, 2025, and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment, a verdict his family rejected and vowed to appeal.
Following his sentencing, Kanu was taken to the Sokoto Correctional Centre to serve his sentence after the court held that the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja would not be suitable for him.
However, the IPOB leader filed an ex parte motion before the Federal High Court on December 8, 2025, seeking a transfer to another custodial facility closer to the Federal Capital Territory, suggesting either Suleja in Niger State or a custodial centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Addressing the court on Tuesday, counsel from the Legal Aid Council, Demdoo Asan, told the judge that despite repeated communication with Kanu’s relatives, none of them showed up to depose to the application in support of the motion.
“Since the last adjourned date, I have been on constant phone communication with the relatives of the applicant. However, the relatives of the applicant didn’t show up at our office to depose to the application, despite phone calls and promises to show up,” he said.
He further complained that the applicant was attempting to dictate how the case should be handled, including what counsel should say in court, a situation he said was unacceptable to him as an officer of the court.
“Also, the applicant wants to dictate the tune of the matter; he wants to 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.
Asan said after consulting with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, they unanimously agreed to withdraw from the matter, adding that a client could not control legal proceedings from detention.
Ruling on the application, Justice Omotosho commended the counsel for upholding the dignity of the court, granted leave for the Legal Aid Council to withdraw from the case, and struck out the ex parte motion for lack of competence, noting that there was no proof of service on relevant parties since the last adjourned date.
“Having listened to counsel from the Legal Aid Council, I will grant leave for the counsel and the Legal Aid generally to withdraw from representing the defendant convict.
“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.
