The Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu has moved Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto State.
Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed the development on Friday in a post on X, stating:
“Breaking: MAZI NNAMDI KANU has just been moved from DSS Abuja to the correctional facility in Sokoto; so far away from his lawyers, family, loved ones and well-wishers.”
This comes a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted and sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on terrorism charges— a ruling his legal team has strongly rejected. The lawyers described the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho as “a travesty of justice” and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking to journalists, Ejimakor said the verdict marked a troubling moment in Nigeria’s judicial system.
“Today will forever remain in Nigeria’s history. It is the first time I have seen someone convicted solely for words he spoke, not for any action he took,” he said.
He maintained that the prosecution’s evidence did not justify the conviction.
“The verdict does not reflect the evidence before the court. The sentence is excessive, cruel and unjust,” he argued.
Ejimakor questioned how Kanu could be found guilty of terrorism based on broadcasts that were not linked to any act of violence. He insisted that advocating for self-determination is not a criminal offence.
Another defence lawyer, Maxwell Okpara, also condemned the judgment, saying it was driven by emotion instead of law. He urged residents of the South-East to remain peaceful, stressing that the legal team was confident higher courts would rectify what they consider a serious miscarriage of justice.
Ejimakor added that the team would immediately begin the appeal process, and if necessary, take the case to the Supreme Court.
