IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is serving a life sentence, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to move him from the Sokoto Custodial Centre to a facility closer to the capital, Dockaysworld reports.
Recall that the IPOB leader who was given a life sentence by Justice Omotosho during a federal high court rulling, was transferred to Sokoto prison to serve his sentence.
Kanu filed a new motion explaining that staying in Sokoto would make it hard for him to prepare and file his appeal against his conviction.
The motion, which he personally signed, reached the court through his younger brother, Emmanuel, since he could not appear in person.
The case came up on Thursday.
In the motion, Kanu said he was convicted on November 20 and was moved to Sokoto the next day, a place far from Abuja where he hopes to work on his appeal.
He noted that he currently has no lawyer and plans to handle parts of the appeal process himself.
Kanu told the court that preparing his notice of appeal and other documents requires direct access to the court registry in Abuja.
He also said that those who assist him, including his relatives and consultants, all live in Abuja, making his stay in Sokoto a major burden.
According to him, keeping him that far away could frustrate his right to appeal.
He asked the court to order the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service to move him to a custodial facility within Abuja’s jurisdiction.
If that was not possible, he requested a transfer to a nearby centre such as Suleja or Keffi.
When the matter was called, Justice James Omotosho refused to allow Emmanuel Kanu to speak for his brother, noting that only a lawyer can move such an application.
The judge advised that Kanu should get legal representation or contact the Legal Aid Council if he cannot hire a lawyer.
Justice Omotosho also warned against spreading wrong claims about Kanu’s case.
He reacted to comments made by a former lawyer of Kanu, saying the convict does not need to be present in court for the appeal record to be prepared.
The judge then fixed December 8 for the hearing of the motion.
