Justice James Kolawole 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, informed the court that he wished to withdraw from the matter, citing irreconcilable differences with the applicant and his relatives.
Asan told the court that since the last adjourned date, he had been in constant communication with Kanu’s relatives, who failed to show up at his office to depose to the application despite repeated phone calls and assurances.
He further revealed that Kanu wanted to dictate how the case should be handled and what counsel should say in court.
“He wants to write down what I would say while in court. But, as an officer of the court, I can’t in good faith accept that,” Asan said.
He added that after consulting with his superiors, they all agreed that as officers of the court, they must handle cases in line with professional judgment and ethics, and not at the dictates of a client.
On that basis, he invoked Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules, seeking leave to withdraw from the matter.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho commended counsel for upholding the dignity of the court and granted leave for the Legal Aid Council, and Asan in particular, to withdraw from representing Kanu.
The judge also held that the ex-parte motion seeking Kanu’s transfer was incompetent.
“In the interest of justice and fairness, this court directed that other parties involved in the matter be served on notice. But since the last court sitting on December 8, 2025, until today, January 27, 2026, there is no proof of service before this court,” Justice Omotosho said.
He subsequently ordered that the motion be struck out for lack of competence.
