By Our Reporter
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an ex-parte motion filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Facility.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Kanu’s counsel, Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer with the Legal Aid Council, applied to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences with his client.
Asan told the court that Kanu attempted to dictate how the case should be conducted, including what counsel should say in court, a situation he said was incompatible with his duty as an officer of the court.
He also disclosed that despite repeated phone communications, Kanu’s relatives failed to appear at the Legal Aid Council office to depose to the application.
After consulting with his superiors, Asan said the Legal Aid Council decided it could no longer continue with the representation and formally applied to withdraw under Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended the counsel for upholding the dignity of the court and granted leave for Asan and the Legal Aid Council to withdraw from the matter.
The judge further held that the ex-parte motion seeking Kanu’s transfer was incompetent, noting the absence of proof of service on relevant parties since the last adjourned sitting on December 8, 2025.
Consequently, the court struck out the application for lack of competence.