Abuja — December 5, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility, and rebuffed an attempt by his younger brother to represent him in court.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, pleaded via a motion ex parte for relocation to a custodial facility within the court’s jurisdiction arguing that his current detention in Sokoto, over 700 kilometres from Abuja, impedes his ability to effectively prosecute his appeal.
When the case was called, however, his brother Prince Emmanuel Kanu announced appearance on his behalf despite not being a legal practitioner. The trial judge, James Omotosho, declined to hear the application, stating that only a qualified lawyer can move such a motion on behalf of a convict. The matter was accordingly adjourned to December 8, when Kanu’s counsel is expected to appear.
The judge clarified that a family member cannot substitute for a legal representative in court even if the convict is unable to be present physically. He recommended that Kanu either engage licensed counsel or seek assistance from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
The delay adds a new layer of uncertainty to Kanu’s appeal process, as the logistics and procedural requirements for his record of appeal remain complex under current detention conditions.