The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 8 for the hearing of an ex parte motion filed by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility to a location closer to Abuja.
Kanu, who was convicted on November 20 on all seven terrorism counts filed by the Federal Government and sentenced to life imprisonment, was moved to Sokoto after the court raised concerns over his safety at the Kuje facility, which has witnessed breakouts in the past.
Before his conviction, Kanu had dismissed his legal team and chose to represent himself.
Court Rejects Brother’s Attempt to Represent Him
During Thursday’s proceedings, Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, attempted to appear on his behalf, but Justice James Omotosho refused, stressing that only a lawyer can move a legal application.
The judge said:
“This application cannot be moved on behalf of the convict because you are not a legal practitioner.”
He advised Emmanuel to hire a lawyer or seek assistance from the Legal Aid Council, adding that no relative can stand in court for a defendant.
Judge Addresses Misconceptions on Appeal Process
Justice Omotosho also cautioned against misinformation regarding Kanu’s appeal, noting that contrary to public claims, the convict does not need to be physically present in court to compile his appeal records.
He emphasized that:
“The defendant may not be in court to compile his record… The rights of a defendant are different from the rights of a convict.”
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After refusing to take Emmanuel’s submissions, the case was adjourned to December 8.
Kanu’s Request
In his motion, personally signed before his conviction, Kanu is asking the court to order his transfer from Sokoto to a custodial facility within Abuja’s jurisdiction—such as Suleja or Keffi—so he can effectively prepare and prosecute his appeal.
He argued that:
Sokoto is over 700km from Abuja.
He currently has no lawyer, and must personally work on his appeal.
All individuals assisting him—family, associates, and advisers—are based in Abuja.
His current location makes exercising his constitutional right to appeal extremely difficult.
Background
The motion references findings from the court’s November 20 ruling and the conditions surrounding Kanu’s detention. The IPOB leader insists that remaining in Sokoto would hinder his ability to challenge his conviction, violating his rights under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
The court will review these arguments when the application is taken up on December 8.
