A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out a request seeking the transfer of Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu from custody in Sokoto to Abuja, where he is serving a life sentence.
Justice James Omotosho dismissed the application after it was withdrawn following the exit of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria from Kanu’s defense.
Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer with the council, told the court he was withdrawing from the case, citing irreconcilable differences. “Since the last adjourned date, I have been on constant phone communication with the relatives of the applicant. “However, the relatives of the applicant didn’t show up at our office to submit the application. Despite phone calls and promises to show up,” Mr Demdoo narrated.
He also said “the applicant wants to dictate the tune of the matter, he wants to control what counsel would say, 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.” Mr Demdoo also told the court how he consulted with his superiors, who shared the same sentiment.
He said, as officers of the court, he and his office would handle the matter as they saw fit, or the applicant could seek legal representation elsewhere.
On that note, he invoked Order 50, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules to withdraw from the matter.
In his ruling, the judge, Mr Omotosho, commended the counsel for upholding the dignity of the court.
“Having listened to counsel from the Legal Aid Council, I will grant leave for the counsel and the Legal Aid generally, to withdraw from representing the defendant convict,” Mr Omotosho said.
He also described the motion as “incompetent.’
The judge explained that despite the flaws of the application, directed other parties involved in the matter to be served with the processes filed, in the interest of justice. But, since the last court sitting on 8 December 2025 until today 27 January, there was no proof of service before this court.
The judge struck out the ex-parte motion for lacking competence.
The LACON came into the matter after the judge rejected the move by Mr Kanu’s brother who was not a lawyer to move the application on behalf of the Biafra agitator.
