The transfer of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the recently sentenced leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Sokoto has reportedly triggered a dramatic political atmosphere among inmates, who have declared him the “Prison President.”
Kanu, who was recently handed a life sentence by the Federal High Court in Abuja on seven counts of terrorism and secessionist agitation, was moved from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Sokoto correctional facility.
ANN learnt that drama erupted upon his arrival, with inmates unanimously declaring him their internal leader. They reportedly “scrambled to get close enough to shake his hand,” celebrating him as “a man who speaks the truth without fear.”
A senior prison official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the situation as having fundamentally altered the prison environment. “Kanu has practically turned his cell block into a mini Radio Biafra,” the official stated. “Even those who once opposed him now sit quietly to listen. The surprising part is that nobody forces them—his words pull them.”
The official added that irrespective of political or ideological alignment, Kanu’s presence is commanding: “Whether people agree with his ideology or not, nobody denies that he talks boldly, fearlessly, and with deep conviction. That alone has made him a prominent figure in this place.”
Meanwhile, Kanu’s family has raised alarms over legal impediments to his appeal process. Emma Kanu, the IPOB leader’s younger brother and spokesperson, disclosed that the Abuja High Court had declined to issue a Production Warrant necessary to transport the inmate from Sokoto to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the settlement of his appeal documents, which were scheduled for review on November 28, 2025.
