Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor, has expressed concerns that transferring Kanu to Sokoto State to serve his prison term may hinder his ability to pursue an appeal.

Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court recently sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment and ordered that he serve his sentence at the Sokoto Custodial Service Centre. Kanu has been on trial for a decade due to his advocacy for the actualization of Biafra.

Despite several previous discharges and acquittals, the Nigerian government maintained its insistence on continuing Kanu’s trial. Prior to his conviction, he had been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In an interview with Channels Television, Ejimakor highlighted that moving Kanu to Sokoto complicates the appeal process and undermines his right to a fair hearing under Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.

“After the sentencing, I was surprised, like everyone else following the case, that he was taken from Abuja all the way to Sokoto, in the far northwest of Nigeria. This raises questions about how he can effectively prosecute his appeal or even begin the initial steps,” Ejimakor said.

He explained that initiating an appeal involves filing a notice of appeal, requesting court transcripts, reviewing them, and completing other procedural requirements before the Court of Appeal—all of which become more challenging due to the prison transfer.

Ejimakor further noted that the difficulties are compounded because Kanu currently has no legal representatives to assist him with the appeal.