The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the hearing of a motion filed by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who is seeking to be moved from the Sokoto Correctional Facility.
Kanu was convicted on November 20, 2025, after being found guilty on all seven terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He was transferred to the Sokoto facility immediately after sentencing, with the court citing concerns about his safety at the Kuje Custodial Centre due to past security breaches.
Thursday’s proceedings took a dramatic turn when Justice James Omotosho declined to recognise Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, who attempted to appear for him despite not being a lawyer.
“This ex parte motion cannot be moved on the convict’s behalf because you are not a legal practitioner,” Justice Omotosho stated.
The judge further clarified that only a qualified lawyer could move such an application and urged Emmanuel to engage counsel or seek help from the Legal Aid Council before the next hearing slated for December 8.
He also cautioned against spreading misinformation on the appeal process, stressing that Kanu does not need to be physically present to compile his record of appeal and warning that inadequate legal guidance could mislead the public.
Justice Omotosho reiterated the point while responding to claims attributed to one of Kanu’s former lawyers, adding: “The defendant may not be in court to compile a record. His attendance is not required, though the appearance of his representative may be required.”
After refusing Emmanuel audience, the judge adjourned the matter to December 8 for a hearing on Kanu’s application, which seeks his transfer from Sokoto to a custodial facility within the court’s jurisdiction.
In the motion he personally signed, Kanu argued that the over 700-kilometre distance between Sokoto and Abuja hinders him from exercising his constitutional right of appeal and asked the court to deem the motion moved in absentia.
He is also seeking an alternative transfer to a facility in Suleja or Keffi to enable easier access to the court registry, his associates, and legal consultants based in Abuja.
Kanu maintained that his continued detention in Sokoto causes “exceptional hardship,” insisting that proximity to Abuja is necessary for him to effectively prosecute his appeal.