The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu, has reportedly been transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services in Abuja to a correctional facility in Sokoto State, according to his former counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.
Ejimakor disclosed the development on Friday in a social media post, expressing strong reservations about the decision and warning that the move could further complicate Kanu’s legal and welfare situation.
“I must question the wisdom of sending #MNK to Sokoto prison,” Ejimakor wrote.
“This transfer places him far from his legal team, family, and supporters. While urging #Ndigbo to remain calm, I believe President Tinubu should reconsider this decision.”
He referenced historical precedent, noting that when the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was convicted in 1963, he was detained in the East — a location considered neutral in relation to his political tensions.
As of Friday evening, the relocation had not been independently verified by PUNCH Online.
Kanu, first arrested in 2015, has faced multiple charges bordering on treasonable felony, terrorism, and other offences linked to his leadership of IPOB. After fleeing Nigeria, he was extradited from Kenya in 2021 to face trial.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to life imprisonment after he was found guilty on seven terrorism-related charges.
Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the judgment, imposed life terms on five counts, alongside 20-year and five-year sentences on two others. All sentences carry no option of fine.
The judge also recommended that Kanu be kept in a more secure facility outside Kuje Correctional Centre due to potential security risks.
Lead prosecutor in the case, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), welcomed the judgment, insisting it reinforces the rule of law.
“This ruling sends a strong message that nobody, no matter their status, is above the law,” he said.
IPOB has rejected the verdict, describing it as politically motivated and unjust. It
