Court throws out Nnamdi Kanu’s transfer request as Legal Aid counsel quits case

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

Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling after Kanu’s lawyer, Mr Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer with the Legal Aid Council, informed the court that he could no longer continue to represent the applicant due to irreconcilable differences.

Asan told the court that since the matter was last adjourned, he had been in frequent telephone communication with Kanu’s relatives, who were expected to depose to the application. However, he said they failed to appear at the Legal Aid office despite several assurances.

The counsel further revealed that Kanu sought to interfere directly with the conduct of the case, insisting on dictating what would be said in court.

“He wants to write down what I would say while in court. As an officer of the court, I cannot in good conscience accept that,” Asan said.

He explained that after consulting with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, they agreed that continuing with the representation under such circumstances would be inappropriate.

“As officers of the court, when a matter comes before us, we must be allowed to exercise our professional judgment. Otherwise, the applicant is free to seek legal assistance elsewhere,” he added.

Asan thereafter invoked Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules to formally withdraw from the matter.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho praised the counsel for what he described as his respect for the dignity of the court and granted the application for withdrawal by Asan and the Legal Aid Council.

The judge observed that the ex-parte motion seeking Kanu’s transfer was also procedurally defective. He noted that there was no evidence before the court showing that other relevant parties had been served, even though the case had been adjourned since December 8, 2025.

Justice Omotosho said that while the court was mindful of the need to ensure fairness and justice, it could not proceed on an incompetent application.

He consequently ordered that the motion be struck out for lacking competence, effectively halting Kanu’s bid for transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility.