By Aisha Muhammad Magaji
A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to assemble a team of specialists to verify the health condition of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and report back within eight days.
The order was issued by Justice James Omotosho following a motion from Kanu’s lawyers, who argued that his deteriorating health required immediate transfer from Department of State Services (DSS) custody to the National Hospital, Abuja.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the NMA must constitute a panel of eight to ten medical experts, including at least one cardiologist and one neurologist, with the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital also serving on the team.
The panel is to conduct an on-site inspection of the DSS medical facility to determine whether it has the capacity to handle Kanu’s health conditions. If the facility is deemed inadequate, the doctors will be allowed to examine him at a hospital of their choice within Nigeria.
The court stressed that the findings of the NMA panel will guide its decision on whether Kanu should be transferred for specialized medical treatment.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of contradictory medical assessments. While Kanu’s personal doctors have insisted that he requires urgent treatment at the National Hospital or abroad, the DSS medical team, led by Dr. Mohammed Nasir, maintains that its in-house facilities are sufficient.
The Federal Government, represented by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, opposed Kanu’s transfer request. Awomolo argued that moving him to the National Hospital could create “serious security and administrative disruptions” and insisted that the private medical report tendered by Kanu’s team was “exaggerated and questionable.”
Kanu’s legal team, led by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, countered that his client’s health is deteriorating rapidly and that continued confinement under current conditions poses grave risks. Ikpeazu stressed that the right to adequate medical care is fundamental, even for detainees, and urged the court to ensure that Kanu receives the treatment he needs.
The case has drawn significant attention due to both Kanu’s political influence and the human rights questions surrounding his detention. Analysts believe the outcome of the NMA’s report could influence not just Kanu’s trial, but also future handling of high-profile detainees with serious health issues.
If the panel recommends his transfer, the court could order his relocation to the National Hospital a move that may spark political and public debate, especially in the Southeast, where calls for his release remain strong.
What Happens Next
- The NMA has eight days to conduct the medical assessment and submit its findings.
- The court will reconvene to consider the report before ruling on Kanu’s transfer request.
- Both the DSS and Federal Government are expected to closely monitor the process, given the security and political sensitivities involved.
For now, the spotlight shifts to the NMA, whose findings will play a decisive role in determining whether the IPOB leader remains in DSS custody or is moved for specialized treatment.
