The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a fresh motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting that his continued detention at the Sokoto Correctional Facility threatens his ability to appeal his conviction and life sentence.
Kanu, who signed the ex parte application personally, argued that being kept over 700 kilometres from Abuja makes it nearly impossible for him to prepare and file his appeal.
He said he intends to handle parts of the appeal himself since he currently has no legal representation.
According to him, everyone assisting him—relatives, associates, and legal consultants—lives in Abuja, making the distance a major obstacle.
He told the court that preparing the notice and record of appeal requires his personal interface with court officials in Abuja, and that detaining him so far away undermines his constitutional right to fair hearing under Section 36.
Kanu therefore asked the court to order the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service to transfer him immediately to a facility within the jurisdiction of the Abuja division.
In the alternative, he requested relocation to Suleja or Keffi to enable him pursue his appeal effectively.
When the motion came up, Justice James Omotosho refused to allow Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, to move the application, stressing that only a qualified legal practitioner can represent a defendant. He advised Kanu to engage a lawyer or seek assistance from the Legal Aid Council.
The judge also cautioned against misleading comments about the appeal process, noting that a convict does not need to be physically present in court for compilation of records. The case was adjourned to December 8.
