IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has been moved from DSS custody in Abuja to the Sokoto Custodial Centre after being handed a life sentence for terrorism offences. His lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the relocation, saying it distances Kanu from his legal team and family.
Justice Kolawole Omotosho ruled that Kuje Prison was unsafe for him due to security concerns linked to past violence involving IPOB.
The verdict triggered heightened security across the Southeast and mixed reactions. IPOB rejected the ruling, insisting no weapons or attack plans were tied to Kanu, while MASSOB described the sentence as a collective blow to the region.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, appealed for calm, urging Igbo leaders to prioritise dialogue and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
Opinions remain divided. Some groups say the judgment opens the door for an appeal or possible presidential pardon. Others, including senior Igbo figures, maintain that Kanu’s continued detention fuels unrest and should be resolved politically.
In Imo, the police warned against any disruption of public order, announcing increased patrols and security deployments.
Former counsel Vincent Obetta also called for a political solution, arguing that Kanu’s prolonged detention despite previous court rulings violates both Nigerian and international law.
