The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an application filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Tuesday after Kanu’s legal representative, Demdoo Asan of the Legal Aid Council, applied to withdraw from the case, citing fundamental disagreements with his client.
Addressing the court, Asan said efforts to regularise the application had failed because Kanu’s relatives, who were expected to depose to supporting affidavits, did not honour repeated invitations to appear at the Legal Aid office.
He added that despite several assurances, no family member showed up to complete the necessary documentation.
The lawyer further told the court that Kanu attempted to direct how the case should be conducted, including dictating what counsel should say in court.
Asan said such conduct was incompatible with his duties as an officer of the court and undermined professional independence.
He explained that after consultations with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, they collectively agreed that continuing representation under those circumstances was untenable.
Asan subsequently invoked provisions of the Federal High Court Rules to formally withdraw from the matter.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended counsel for maintaining professional standards and granted permission for both Asan and the Legal Aid Council to cease representing Kanu.
The judge also held that the ex-parte motion seeking Kanu’s transfer was procedurally defective.
He noted that since the last hearing in December 2025, there was no evidence that the relevant parties had been properly served with court processes.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho struck out the application on the grounds of incompetence, bringing the motion for Kanu’s transfer from Sokoto Prison to an end.
