The trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, suffered a delay on Wednesday following the inability of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to complete its medical evaluation of his health condition.
At the resumed hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case till October 16 after being informed that the NMA panel, which was earlier directed to assess Kanu’s medical status, had not submitted its report.
Court Orders Medical Review
On September 26, the court ordered the NMA to set up a team of medical experts to determine Kanu’s current health condition.
The directive came after the court dismissed a no-case submission filed by the IPOB leader, who sought to be discharged and acquitted of the seven-count charge of terrorism preferred against him by the Federal Government.
Justice Omotosho instructed that the NMA report would guide the court in deciding whether to grant Kanu’s request to be transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja, for proper medical care.
The judge specified that the committee should comprise eight to ten medical practitioners, including a cardiologist and a neurologist, and must include the chief medical director of the national hospital. The panel was also authorised to visit the Department of State Services (DSS) medical facility, where Kanu is held, to determine its capacity to handle his medical needs.
NMA Seeks More Time
When the case resumed, Mr Suraj S’aad, SAN, representing the DSS, told the court that the NMA had contacted the security agency and requested more time to finalise its findings. He sought a week’s adjournment to enable the medical team to complete the assessment.
READ ALSO: Court Gives NMA Eight Days to Assess Kanu’s Health, Dismisses A No-Case Submission
Kanu’s lead counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, did not oppose the request, prompting the court to defer the submission of the report to the next hearing date.
Kanu’s Health Decline
In a motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2025, Kanu raised concerns about a serious decline in his health. He said medical examinations had revealed problems with his pancreas, liver, and a developing lump under his armpit, as well as dangerously low potassium levels.
According to him, his doctors recommended immediate transfer to the National Hospital for urgent care to prevent further deterioration. He argued that his continued confinement under current conditions worsened his health and violated his right to proper medical treatment.
However, the Federal Government’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, opposed the motion, insisting that the DSS medical facility was adequately equipped to cater to Kanu’s health needs. The prosecution also questioned the credibility of medical reports obtained from private physicians hired by Kanu.
Court Upholds Prima Facie Case
Earlier, the court dismissed Kanu’s claim that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him. After the government closed its case with testimony from five witnesses who were mostly DSS operatives, Justice Omotosho ruled that the evidence presented was sufficient to require a defence.
The judge held that Kanu should be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations levelled against him by the Federal Government.
Background of the Case
Kanu was first arrested on October 14, 2015, after returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. He was granted bail on health grounds in April 2017, after spending 18 months in detention.
READ ALSO: SEast Govs Didnt Abandon Kanu – Otti
He later fled the country following a military raid on his home in Umuahia, Abia State, which resulted in the deaths of several of his followers. Kanu was rearrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria on June 27, 2021.
He has remained in DSS custody since then.
In April 2022, the Federal High Court struck out eight of the fifteen charges against him for lack of substance. Later, in October 2022, the Court of Appeal quashed the remaining charges and ordered his release. However, the Federal Government appealed to the Supreme Court, which on December 15, 2023, reversed the appellate court’s judgement and directed that Kanu should stand trial on seven counts.
Kanu’s Allegations of Judicial Fraud
In an open letter addressed to Nigerians, Kanu accused the Federal Government and sections of the judiciary of “serial executive and judicial fraud” designed to keep him in perpetual detention.
He alleged that despite multiple court rulings declaring aspects of his detention illegal and unconstitutional, the authorities continued to defy the law through political manipulation and backdoor legal manoeuvres.
Kanu stated, “If it will take the rest of my life in detention to appear before a proper and impartial court, so be it. But I will not submit to any trial by a judge or court whose jurisdiction does not meet constitutional standards.”
The case resumes October 16, 2025, when the court is expected to receive the NMA medical panel report.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
