The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has reportedly 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.
In a tweet on Friday, Ejimakor raised concerns about the relocation, pointing out that it places Kanu far from his legal team, family, and supporters.
“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 move,” Ejimakor wrote.
As of Friday evening, PUNCH Online could not independently verify the transfer.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 over charges of treasonable felony, terrorism, and related offences tied to his leadership of IPOB, a proscribed separatist group. After fleeing Nigeria, he was extradited from Kenya in 2021.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on seven terrorism-related charges. IPOB has rejected the verdict, calling it unlawful and politically motivated. Justice James Omotosho handed him life terms on five counts, 20 years on one, and five years on another, all without the option of a fine.
The judge suggested that Kuje Correctional Centre might not be suitable due to security concerns, highlighting the need for a more secure facility.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo, who prosecuted the case for the Federal Government, described the sentence as a strong message that no one is above the law.
