Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has refused an application by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking to be moved from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility closer to Abuja.

Kanu, through the Legal Aid Council, had filed an ex-parte application asking the court to order the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to immediately transfer him to either the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory or the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State. In the alternative, he requested to be moved to any facility within the Abuja judicial division, including Suleja or Keffi, to enable him to effectively pursue his appeal.

However, Justice Omotosho on Monday rejected the request, ruling that such an order could not be granted without first hearing from the Federal Government. He held that the respondents — the Federal Government and the NCoS — must be put on notice and given an opportunity to respond to the application “in the interest of justice.”

The court subsequently fixed January 27, 2026, for the hearing of the motion.

Kanu was convicted on November 20 on all seven terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was transferred to the Sokoto Correctional Centre amid concerns for his safety at Kuje, where past prison breaks had raised security fears.

His legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, later filed a motion before Justice Omotosho seeking Kanu’s relocation to a facility closer to Abuja. In the motion, personally signed by Kanu, he requested that it be deemed moved in absentia and asked the court to compel authorities to effect the transfer.

The application, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, cited eight grounds, including the argument that Sokoto — more than 700 kilometres from Abuja — was too far for him to prepare his notice and record of appeal. Kanu also maintained that all persons essential to assisting him, including relatives, associates and legal consultants, are based in Abuja.