Court Strikes Out Nnamdi Kanu’s Motion to Transfer from Sokoto Prison

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out an ex-parte motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), seeking his transfer from Sokoto Correctional Centre to either Kuje or Keffi Correctional Centre.

Kanu’s lawyer, Demdoo Asan of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, formally withdrew from the case, citing irreconcilable issues with the applicant. Asan explained that Kanu had attempted to dictate court proceedings, including instructing counsel on what to present in court, a position Asan said he could not accept in good faith as the court noted that Kanu’s motion could not be granted via ex-parte application because the respondents—the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)—had not been served or given the opportunity to respond.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale