Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s Bid To Leave Sokoto Prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a request by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking to be moved from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility within the Federal Capital Territory or nearby Nasarawa State.

Kanu, acting through the Legal Aid Council, had filed an ex-parte application asking the court to compel the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to relocate him urgently to the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or the Keffi facility in Nasarawa.

As an alternative, he asked to be transferred to any correctional centre under the jurisdiction of the Abuja division, such as Suleja or Keffi, to allow him better access to legal counsel and to properly pursue his ongoing appeal.

However, on Monday, Justice James Omotosho dismissed the request, ruling that the court could not make such an order without first hearing from the Federal Government.

The judge instructed Kanu to refile the application as a motion on notice and to serve it on all relevant parties in the interest of fair hearing.

The matter has been adjourned until 27 January 2026, when the motion will be considered.