The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has paid a visit to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The visit was disclosed on Thursday by human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, who commended the cleric for the gesture.
In a post, Sowore wrote:
“Thank you so much, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for taking the time to visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today. As the distinguished Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, your visitation symbolizes your solidarity — and that of the Sokoto Diocese — with #MNK in this time of distress.”
Kanu was convicted on terrorism-related charges by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Following the judgment, he was transferred to the Sokoto Custodial Centre on November 21, in compliance with a court order directing that he should be detained in any correctional facility except Kuje Prison, where he had previously been held.
His incarceration in Sokoto has since triggered legal applications seeking his transfer back to Abuja, with his legal team arguing that the distance hampers effective preparation for his appeal, access to court documents, and consultations with lawyers.
Kanu was tried on seven counts of terrorism-related offences brought by the Federal Government, including allegations of incitement and unlawful broadcasts.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja
