The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been moved from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto, according to his former lawyer and consultant, Aloy Ejimakor.
Ejimakor revealed the development in a tweet on Friday, expressing concern that the transfer takes Kanu farther away from his legal team, family, and supporters.
He stated, “While urging Ndigbo to remain calm, I must question the wisdom of sending MNK to Sokoto prison. When Awolowo was convicted in 1963, he was sent to the East, a neutral zone in his feud with the North. President Tinubu can still halt this drift, as I said in this video.”
As of Friday evening, the development had not been independently verified by DIP Connects Online News.
Kanu, first arrested in 2015, has faced charges of treasonable felony, terrorism, and related offences linked to his leadership of the proscribed separatist group IPOB. After fleeing Nigeria, he was extradited from Kenya in 2021.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to life imprisonment on seven terrorism-related charges. Justice James Omotosho imposed life sentences on five counts, 20 years on one count, and five years on another, all without an option of fine. IPOB has rejected the judgement, calling it unlawful and politically motivated.
Justice Omotosho also noted that returning Kanu to Kuje Correctional Centre might not be suitable due to potential security risks, indicating the need for a more secure facility.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo, who prosecuted the case for the Federal Government, welcomed the judgement, saying it sends a clear message that no one is above the law.
ADEOLA KUNLE
