The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out an ex parte motion filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Justice James Omotosho struck out the application after counsel from the Legal Aid Council handling the matter applied to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences with the applicant.

Kanu was convicted of terrorism-related offences on November 20, 2025, and sentenced to life imprisonment, a judgment his family rejected while vowing to appeal.

Following his conviction, he was transferred to the Sokoto Correctional Centre to serve his sentence after the court ruled that the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja was unsuitable for him.

Subsequently, on December 8, 2025, Kanu filed an ex parte motion before the Federal High Court, seeking relocation to a custodial facility closer to the Federal Capital Territory. He suggested either the Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State or a facility in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

However, at Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel from the Legal Aid Council, Demdoo Asan, told the court that despite repeated communication with Kanu’s relatives, none had appeared to depose to the application in support of the motion.

“Since the last adjourned date, I have been on constant phone communication with the relatives of the applicant. However, the relatives of the applicant didn’t show up at our office to depose to the application, despite phone calls and promises to show up,” he said.

Asan further informed the court that the applicant was attempting to dictate how the case should be conducted, including instructing counsel on what to say in court.

“The applicant wants to dictate the tune of the matter; he wants to control what counsel would say. He wants to write down what I would say while in court. As an officer of the court, I cannot in good faith accept that,” he added.

He said that after consulting with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, the decision was taken to withdraw from the case, stressing that a client could not control legal proceedings from detention.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended the counsel for upholding the dignity of the court and granted leave for the Legal Aid Council to withdraw from representing Kanu.

The judge also struck out the ex parte motion, describing it as incompetent, noting that there was no proof of service on relevant parties since the last adjourned date.

“Having listened to counsel from the Legal Aid Council, I grant leave for the counsel and the Legal Aid Council to withdraw from representing the defendant convict.

“As regards the application itself, the motion is incompetent. Although this court had earlier directed that other parties be served in the interest of justice, there is no proof of service before this court from December 8, 2025, till today, January 27,” Justice Omotosho ruled.