A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned hearing until December 8 in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is seeking transfer from a distant northern prison to one nearer the capital.

The court also rejected his brother’s attempt to represent him, ruling that only licensed lawyers may appear on behalf of defendants.

The adjournment comes weeks after Kanu, 58, was convicted on seven terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20. He was transferred to the Sokoto Correctional Facility for security reasons following breaches at Abuja’s Kuje prison. Now self-representing after dismissing his legal team, Kanu argues that the remote location hampers his ability to prepare an appeal.

Presiding judge James Omotosho dismissed the appearance of Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, who sought to argue the case. Omotosho stressed that only solicitors or advocates of the Supreme Court of Nigeria can represent individuals in court, advising Emmanuel to secure counsel or contact the Legal Aid Council.

The judge also clarified procedural points to counter public misconceptions, responding to recent media commentary from Kanu’s former lawyer-turned-consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, who claimed Kanu’s physical presence was essential for compiling appeal records. Omotosho explained that convicts’ rights differ from defendants’, and Kanu’s attendance is not required—only that of a representative if necessary. He urged against misleading the public with inadequate legal advice.

Kanu’s ex parte motion, personally signed and filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, outlines eight grounds for relief. He argues that the 700-kilometer distance from Abuja isolates him from relatives, associates, and consultants based in the capital, violating his constitutional right to appeal under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. He claims the situation renders the process “impracticable” and causes “exceptional hardship.”

Specifically, Kanu seeks an order compelling the federal government and the Nigerian Correctional Service to relocate him to a facility within the court’s jurisdiction, such as Suleja or Keffi, which he says would allow direct access to the court’s registry and the Court of Appeal for notice and record preparation.

The case stems from Kanu’s 2015 arrest on charges including treasonable felony, managing a terrorist group, and inciting violence through radio broadcasts. After jumping bail, he was extradited from Kenya in 2021. His trial has drawn international scrutiny over alleged rights abuses, including claims of solitary confinement. The government insists the charges are necessary to protect national unity, while supporters argue they amount to suppression of Igbo self-determination.

As the appeal deadline approaches—due within 90 days of sentencing—Kanu’s isolation in Sokoto raises broader questions about access to justice for high-profile detainees. The December 8 hearing will test whether proximity to the capital equates to fairness, with legal experts watching closely for precedents on self-representation and family involvement in Nigeria’s judiciary.