A Federal High Court In Abuja Has Struck Out An Ex‑parte Motion Filed By Nnamdi Kanu

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an ex‑parte motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was seeking to be transferred from the Sokoto Correctional Facility to a custodial centre closer to Abuja.
Justice James Omotosho presided over Tuesday’s proceedings and ruled that Kanu’s motion was incompetent and improperly before the court, ultimately striking it out.
The application was brought as an ex‑parte motion meaning without notifying the other parties involved. The judge noted that this was inappropriate for the relief sought.
The motion was dismissed for lacking competence because the relevant parties, including the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), were not joined or served with notice before the court.
Kanu’s lawyer in the matter, Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN), informed the court of his intention to withdraw from representing Kanu due to “irreconcilable differences” between counsel and the applicant.
He had been in constant communication with Kanu’s relatives, but none came forward to depose to the motion as promised.
Kanu had attempted to dictate what he should say in court, which counsel said was incompatible with his professional duties.
Justice Omotosho granted the withdrawal and commended counsel for upholding the dignity of the court.
Kanu was convicted on terrorism‑related charges in November 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was subsequently moved to Sokoto Correctional Facility more than 700 km from Abuja a location his team says hinders his ability to effectively pursue his appeal and consult with lawyers and family
In earlier hearings, the court had already emphasised that such transfer requests should be served on all relevant parties rather than pursued via an ex‑parte motion.
Kanu’s legal team has rejected the ruling and vowed to appeal, describing the court’s handling as “procedural theatre” that does not address the substantive issues of his conviction and detention.
The defence team’s statement accused the court ruling of ignoring fundamental constitutional and jurisdictional questions which they say will be raised in the appeals process.
This development comes amid ongoing legal battles surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s detention and appeal rights following his conviction. The outcome of this motion affects:
Rights of convicted persons to relocate for fair legal representation
Procedural standards for filing ex‑parte applications in high‑stakes cases The broader legal discourse on access to justice and appeal in Nigeria’s judiciary.