Kanu’s Wife Slams Lawyers Over ‘Secret’ Transfer to Sokoto Prison
Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has lashed out at her husband’s legal team, accusing them of failing to brief her on his transfer to a correctional facility in Sokoto state.
Her outburst follows the recent judgment by a federal high court in Abuja, which convicted the IPOB leader and sentenced him to life imprisonment on Thursday.
The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, ordered that Kanu be moved from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody in Abuja to a “protective prison” due to security concerns at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
However, the news of his transfer to Sokoto only became public on Friday when Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s counsel, announced it on social media.
“MAZI NNAMDI KANU has just been moved from DSS Abuja to the correctional facility (prison) in Sokoto; so far away from his lawyers, family, loved ones and wellwishers,” Ejimakor wrote on X.
In a sharp rebuttal, Uchechi Okwu-Kanu claimed she was kept in the dark. She stated she only received information about her husband’s arrival at the facility hours after the fact, accusing the lawyers of prioritizing social media over professional communication.
“Information reaching me about three hours ago is that my husband has arrived at Sokoto prison,” she wrote on her X handle.
She berated the legal team for their “unprofessional” behavior, noting that certain persons who had visited him earlier that day failed to inform her of the impending move.
“If you all do not sit up and behave in a civilised and professional manner, I will stress you with my ‘stress’ and I promise you, you will be stressed,” she warned. “Enough of your theatrics! Be warned!”.
Meanwhile, Enyinnaya Abaribe, the senator representing Abia South, commented on the court’s verdict, stating that the life sentence was not surprising given the federal government’s refusal to extend amnesty to Kanu.
The family has also raised concerns about Kanu’s health, alleging that the “secret transfer” to Sokoto is a ploy to deny him access to his specialized medical care. Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, claimed the move could “tamper with the delicate medical arrangements” put in place for the separatist leader.
