Abuja — The Federal Government has reportedly moved Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto State, his lawyer Aloy Ejimakor confirmed.
Ejimakor announced the transfer in a post on X, stating:
“MAZI NNAMDI KANU has just been moved from DSS Abuja to the correctional facility … in Sokoto; so far away from his lawyers, family, loved ones and well-wishers.”
The relocation comes less than 24 hours after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on terrorism-related charges. According to his legal team, the move will make it significantly harder for his family and lawyers to access him.
Kanu’s family has rejected the transfer, expressing deep concern for his health and safety. Prince Emmanuel Kanu warned that removing him from Abuja could deny him access to his personal physicians and accused authorities of isolating him “with the intention to kill him.
Security sources say the transfer was carried out “for security reasons,” though the DSS and Ministry of Interior have not issued an official statement yet.
The move has reignited tensions around Kanu’s detention, with supporters and legal observers warning of potential rights violations as the IPOB leader begins serving his sentence far from his base in the southeast.