Nnamdi Kanu rejects transfer from Sokoto prison
The wife of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Uchechigeme Okwu-Kanu, has explained that her husband, Nnamdi Kanu, personally turned down plans to move him from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to Abuja despite earlier efforts to secure the transfer.
She made this known on Wednesday through her verified Facebook page while responding to questions and public discussion surrounding the issue.
According to her, Kanu had earlier approached the court, asking to be transferred from the correctional facility in Sokoto, which is more than 700 kilometres away from Abuja.
The request was heard by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.
On December 8, 2025, the judge rejected the ex parte application, saying such an order could not be made without first allowing the Federal Government to respond.
The case later returned to court, but the application was eventually struck out after a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council asked to withdraw from the matter.
Following that development, Kanu continued to represent himself.
Okwu-Kanu said she had spent a long time working to secure her husband’s transfer because she believed it would make life easier for him and his family.
She explained that her efforts were based on humanitarian, legal and practical reasons rather than politics.
She said the long distance between Sokoto and Abuja made it difficult for family members to visit him, for legal consultations to take place regularly and for him to have easier access to documents connected to his case.
According to her, she also explored diplomatic and consular channels, including discussions with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
She said she was later informed that arrangements had been completed for the transfer to move forward.
However, she said she was surprised to learn that Kanu had rejected the move.
Wanting to know the reason for his decision, she sought further explanation and was told that he believed the earlier court refusal of his application had been influenced unfairly.
She explained that Kanu felt there had been no proper reason for the court to deny his original request.
Because of that belief, he decided to remain in Sokoto instead of accepting a transfer arranged through another process.
She said he preferred to stay there and, if he eventually regained his freedom, leave directly for home from Sokoto.
Okwu-Kanu said her own position had remained unchanged throughout the matter. She maintained that moving him to Abuja would have been better for his safety, welfare, access to legal representation and easier family visits.
She added that she continued working towards that goal until she was informed that Kanu had chosen not to relocate.
She also said her statement was intended to clear up months of public speculation over the issue. Looking ahead, she announced that her next campaign would focus on seeking Kanu’s release and safe return home.
She also appealed to IPOB supporters and Biafrans to unite and support the new campaign aimed at securing his freedom.
