The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, , has visited at the Sokoto Correctional Centre, where the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra is currently being held.
The visit was made public on Thursday by , former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress. Sowore praised Bishop Kukah for what he described as a show of solidarity during a difficult period for Kanu. He said the bishop’s visit symbolised both his personal support and that of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.
Nnamdi Kanu, who leads the (IPOB), was convicted on November 20, 2025, by the sitting in Abuja. He was found guilty on seven terrorism-related charges, including incitement and unlawful broadcasts, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The judgment was delivered by Justice James Omotosho.
Following the conviction, Kanu was transferred from Abuja to the Sokoto Correctional Centre on November 21, 2025. The transfer was carried out in line with a court order directing that he should be detained in any correctional facility except Kuje Prison, where he had previously been held.
Since his relocation to Sokoto, Kanu’s legal team has filed applications seeking his transfer back to Abuja. His lawyers argue that keeping him in Sokoto makes it difficult for him to consult with his legal team, access court documents, and properly prepare for his appeal. They have also raised concerns about jurisdiction, claiming that Nigeria should not have tried him for broadcasts allegedly made while he was in the United Kingdom, and describing the trial as rushed and flawed.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Bishop Kukah’s visit has drawn public attention, adding a moral and humanitarian dimension to the case. In late November, other prominent figures, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti and Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, also visited Kanu at the custodial centre.
The case continues to generate national and international interest as legal proceedings move forward.
