Don't Keep Kanu In Kuje Correctional Centre, Justice Ordered
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a firm directive stating that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, must not be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, citing security concerns, custodial risks, and the sensitive nature of Kanu’s ongoing legal and political circumstances. The ruling came after the court delivered multiple sentences across various counts and subsequently reevaluated the conditions under which Kanu should be held pending further legal processes.
In a clear statement delivered before adjourning proceedings, Justice Omotosho declared that Kuje Correctional Centre—previously attacked by armed insurgents, leading to a massive jailbreak—was “not considered sufficiently secure or appropriate for an inmate of Kanu’s profile.” He noted that prior intelligence reports and recent national security assessments indicated that housing Kanu in Kuje posed unnecessary risks both to him and to the facility’s operational stability.
The judge emphasized that the order was not intended as preferential treatment but rather a necessary safeguard given the high-profile nature of Kanu’s case, the threats associated with his detention, and concerns expressed by multiple security agencies. Justice Omotosho referenced the 2022 Kuje prison attack, during which over 600 inmates escaped, as a valid precedent for reconsidering the facility’s suitability for high-risk detainees.
Consequently, the court instructed that Kanu be held in a “more secure, controlled, and federally monitored custodial environment,” though the specific facility was not publicly disclosed for security reasons. According to the judge, this measure would ensure both the integrity of the judicial process and the personal safety of the defendant.
Kanu’s legal team responded cautiously to the announcement. Lead counsel Alloy Ejimakor stated that while the defence has consistently criticized Kuje as unsafe and inadequate, the secrecy surrounding the new detention location raises questions about access to legal counsel, medical care, and contact with family members. He stressed the need for transparency and adherence to constitutional rights, promising to file motions seeking clarity and assurances regarding Kanu’s welfare.
Source: TVC News
