The family of Nnamdi Kau has rejected ongoing moves to relocate the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from Sokoto Custodial Centre to Abuja, saying that it could turn out to become a legal landmine.
The Kanu family made its position known in a statement issued weekend by the spokesman, Prince Emmanuel Kanu to clarify their stance following “persistent calls” mounting pressure on the IPOB leader to accept relocation.
“We consider it necessary to clarify the family’s position and to caution against any course of action that could undermine the pending appeal before the Court of Appeal,” the family said.
They insisted that “any change to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s place of custody should occur through lawful judicial process rather than executive or diplomatic intervention”.
Justice J.K Omotosho had while sentencing the IPOB leader to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, specifically ordered that he should be taken to Sokoto to serve the prison term.
“At page 118 of the judgment, the trial judge made a finding that our son ‘hates the North with a passion’ and thereafter ordered that he serve his sentence at the Sokoto Custodial Centre—the seat of the Caliphate, the heart of the geographical North.
“The legal team submits that the sequence of findings and orders gives rise to a compelling appearance of bias, and that this issue has been squarely placed before the Court of Appeal as a ground for setting aside the conviction,” he stated.
The Kanu family contends that “the Sokoto sentencing is a live issue in the pending appeal” and could compromise efforts to upturn the judgment of the trial court should Kanu accept relocation to Abuja.
They recalled that Kanu had filed a motion before Justice Omotosho seeking for the court to rescind the Sokoto sentencing but “the judicial process was not exhausted because the court itself obstructed it”.
According to the family, the order for Kanu to be sent to Sokoto was “not a mere administrative detail; it is a substantive ground of appeal that the legal team contends constitutes significant evidence in support of the appeal on judicial bias and fair hearing”.
“The legal team considers it essential that this matter be resolved by the Court of Appeal, where the legal issues have been fully argued, rather than through extra-judicial means that could undermine the pending appeal”.
Adducing more reasons for rejecting any plan to relocate Kanu, the family stated that the legal team was of the opinion that the order for him to be kept in Sokoto constitues a crucial component of his appeal.
“The Sokoto sentencing, standing alone and certainly when considered together with the other fourteen independent grounds of appeal, warrants setting aside the conviction.
“This issue has been fully briefed and is now awaiting determination by the Court of Appeal,” the spokesman said.
He pointed out that Kanu, who is appearing pro se (in person) in the Appeal Court, has “personally argued these issues and will not allow any course of action that could undermine them”.
According to him, Kanu “has demonstrated an extraordinary grasp of the legal issues, having personally argued and briefed multiple jurisdictional grounds that his legal team believes are among the most potent ever raised in a Nigerian criminal appeal”.
“Appearing pro se imposes a heightened duty on the court to ensure that his rights are protected and that he is not taken advantage of by the prosecution.
“It also means that any course of action that could be construed as abandoning a ground of appeal—such as voluntarily leaving Sokoto Custodial Centre—would be particularly damaging to his case,” Prince Emmanuel said.
The family noted that by appearing pro se, Kanu has “invested considerable time and legal reasoning in preparing the appeal” hence “the Kanu family will not allow that effort to be undermined by extra-judicial interventions”.
The Okwu-Kanu family said they were aware that British consular staff had engaged Kanu “regarding a possible intervention to move him to Abuja”, adding that “he rejected that offer—and he was right to do so”.
However, the family advised that such diplomatic or any other interventions to secure Kanu’s relocation to Abuja would not serve useful purpose at this point in time since his conviction by the trial court is already being challenged at the Appellate Court.
“The Kanu family respectfully urges all well-meaning persons to desist from any action or advocacy that could compromise the legal strategy, which has been carefully developed over many months and which the legal team believes is the surest path to securing his freedom.
“The Court of Appeal will decide the law. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will obey the law. But he will not allow emotion, social media pressure, or diplomatic interference to dictate his legal strategy,” the family said.
