Author: Gist Correspondent

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

Justice James Omotosho made the ruling on Tuesday after Kanu’s legal representative, Mr. Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer with the Legal Aid Council, applied to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences.

Addressing the court, Asan said he had maintained constant telephone communication with Kanu’s relatives since the last adjourned date, but noted that they failed to appear at the Legal Aid Council office to depose to the application despite repeated assurances.

He further told the court that Kanu attempted to dictate the conduct of the proceedings and sought to control what counsel would say in court, a situation he described as unacceptable.

According to him, “He wants to write down what I would say in court, but as an officer of the court, I cannot in good faith accept that.”

Asan added that after consulting with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council, they shared the same position, insisting that legal matters must be handled independently and professionally by counsel.

Invoking Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules, Asan formally applied to withdraw from representing the applicant.

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

The judge held that the ex-parte motion seeking Kanu’s transfer was incompetent, noting that there was no proof of service on other relevant parties since the last court sitting on December 8, 2025.

He, however, observed that in the interest of justice and fairness, all parties ought to have been properly served before any application could be entertained.

Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered that the motion be struck out for lack of competence.