The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an ex-parte motion filed by the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to Kuje or Keffi. The motion was dismissed after his legal representative from the Legal Aid Council, Demdoo Asan, withdrew from the case citing irreconcilable differences with the client.
Asan informed the court that despite constant communication, Kanu's relatives failed to appear to depose to the application. He also cited Kanu's attempt to control court proceedings. “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,” Asan stated.
After consulting with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, Asan invoked Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules to formally withdraw. Justice James Omotosho commended the counsel for upholding the court's dignity and granted the withdrawal.
The court had previously declined to grant the motion in December 2025, ruling that it could not be decided ex-parte and that the Federal Government and Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) must be put on notice. On Tuesday, Justice Omotosho noted that since the December adjournment, there was no proof of service on the respondents and subsequently struck out the motion for lacking competence.
Kanu, serving a life sentence for terrorism, had sought transfer to a facility within the court's jurisdiction to better facilitate his appeal process.
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