JUST IN: Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s Request to Leave Sokoto Prison

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined a request by Nnamdi Kanu to be moved out of the Sokoto Correctional Facility, dealing a setback to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The ruling was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, who struck out an ex-parte application seeking Kanu’s transfer from the northern facility. The court held that the motion could not stand and therefore refused to grant the reliefs sought.

The matter took a dramatic turn during Tuesday’s proceedings when Kanu’s lawyer, Demdoo Asan, announced his decision to withdraw from the case.

Asan, a senior legal officer with the Legal Aid Council, told the court that he could no longer continue due to unresolved disagreements with his client.

He explained that after the last adjournment, he maintained regular telephone contact with Kanu’s relatives in an attempt to move the case forward.

According to him, those relatives repeatedly promised to visit the Legal Aid Council office to depose to the necessary application but failed to show up.

Asan further informed the court that the situation became more complicated as Kanu allegedly attempted to control the conduct of the case from detention. He said the applicant insisted on dictating court proceedings and determining what counsel should say before the judge.

“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,” he said.

The lawyer added that he consulted with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, who shared his concerns about the development of the case.

“As officers of the court, when a matter comes to us, we handle it as we see fit; otherwise, the applicant can find legal help elsewhere,” Demdoo said.

He subsequently relied on Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules to formally apply for withdrawal from the matter.

In his response, Justice Omotosho praised the counsel for maintaining professional standards and respecting the authority of the court. He granted the request, allowing Demdoo and the Legal Aid Council to step aside from representing Kanu.

The judge also reviewed the ex-parte motion before the court and described it as incompetent. He noted that despite the seriousness of the application, there was no evidence that other relevant parties had been properly served.

Justice Omotosho pointed out that since the previous sitting on December 8, 2025, the court record showed no proof of service. He stressed that due process must be followed, even when applications are brought urgently.

On that basis, the court ordered that the motion be struck out for lack of competence, effectively bringing the application to an end.

The post JUST IN: Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s Request to Leave Sokoto Prison appeared first on Politics Nigeria.