Governor Otti Visits Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto Prison Amid Life Sentence

The political landscape in Nigeria’s South-East region witnessed a significant development on Sunday,
November 30, 2025, as the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the recently
convicted leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

The visit, which was confirmed by the Governor’s media aide and the Kanu family, marks the first official
high-level engagement with the IPOB leader since his conviction and swift transfer from the Department
of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja to the correctional facility in Sokoto, thousands of kilometers
from his native Abia State.
The news of Governor Otti’s arrival in Sokoto was initially shared by Kanu’s brother, Prince Kanu, who
posted the development on social media earlier in the afternoon.

This was later corroborated by statements from the Abia State Government, which indicated the
Governor’s commitment to exploring all avenues for peace and resolution in the region.
According to Aloy Ejimakor, former special counsel to Mazi Kanu, the visit fulfills a promise made by
Governor Otti to the IPOB leader. Ejimakor, writing on his X handle, expressed hope that the meeting
would be “the first step to ending this undeserved ordeal, sooner than later.”

Governor Otti, who had previously assured citizens that he had “activated” an agreed-upon strategy for
Kanu’s freedom following the court judgment, is widely seen as making a proactive move to address the
deeply sensitive matter.
The Governor’s visit comes barely ten days after a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice
James Omotosho, convicted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of terrorism-related charges on November 20, 2025, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The conviction led to an immediate and controversial relocation of Kanu from the DSS custody in Abuja
to Sokoto.
The defense team and Kanu’s family vehemently criticized the transfer, describing it as an attempt to
isolate the IPOB leader and raise serious concerns over his fragile health condition.
Kanu’s personal physician, Prof. M. A. C. Aghaji, had previously warned that the abrupt move posed
medical risks, urging the federal government to reconsider the location.

Governor Otti’s trip highlights the critical nature of the Nnamdi Kanu issue in the political landscape of
the South-East, particularly in Abia, the leader’s home state. The Governor has consistently advocated
for a political solution through high-level dialogue and diplomacy with the Federal Government, rather
than relying solely on legal battles or force.
Direct Assessment: To personally assess Kanu’s welfare and physical condition following his conviction
and transfer to a facility far from his legal and medical team.
Maintaining Contact: To keep the communication channel open, demonstrating solidarity with the
convicted leader and responding to the emotional pleas of his constituents.

Diplomatic Leverage: To utilize the visit as a clear signal of his commitment to the “alternative resolution
strategy” he has repeatedly mentioned, aimed at securing Kanu’s eventual freedom through political
means.
The Abia State Government is expected to issue a formal statement detailing the discussions and
outcome of the visit in the coming hours. Security was reportedly heightened around the correctional
facility during the Governor’s presence, underscoring the high political sensitivity surrounding Mazi
Kanu’s detention.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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