The Federal Government has transferred the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto State, according to his former lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor.
Kanu was relocated less than 24 hours after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sentenced him to life imprisonment following his conviction on terrorism charges.
Ejimakor confirmed the development in a post on X on Friday, warning that the decision would make access to Kanu more difficult for his legal team and family members.
“MAZI NNAMDI KANU has just been moved from DSS Abuja to the correctional facility (prison) in Sokoto; so far away from his lawyers, family, loved ones and well-wishers,” he wrote.
Kanu’s family also expressed deep concern over the move, alleging that it was done secretly and without prior notification. His brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, said the legal team discovered the transfer when they visited the DSS facility in Abuja on Friday.
“When his lawyers went to see him, they were told he had been moved to Sokoto,” he said.
Emmanuel described the relocation as a threat to Kanu’s life, claiming that the IPOB leader relies on specialised medical treatment from private doctors. He alleged that placing him in Sokoto prison was part of a “veiled plot” to deny him proper care.
“They have secretly relocated Nnamdi Kanu to Sokoto prison with the intention to kill him by denying him access to his personal physicians,” he alleged.
“Kanu is on special medication managed by a private doctor after his health deteriorated. Now they want to return to the old order of administering drugs to him. This is a plan to finally kill him, and we are opposed to it.”
Emmanuel Kanu called on the international community to hold President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government responsible should anything happen to his brother.
“Nigeria should not kill Nnamdi Kanu for seeking justice for his people. He committed no crime to warrant this torture,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government and the Department of State Services have not issued any public statement confirming or responding to the relocation claims.
