The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) panel constituted by its president has told the Abuja division of the Federal High Court that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is medically fit to stand his trial, as his complained-about ailment was not life-threatening.
Kanu had, in a motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2025, bemoaned that his health had taken a worrisome decline, a situation he said necessitated the invitation of doctors who carried out a thorough examination on him.
Following the motion, Justice James Omotosho had, on September 26, ordered the NMA, which is the umbrella body of medical practitioners in the country, to constitute a team of experts to ascertain Kanu’s health condition.
The committee, the court said, should comprise eight to 10 medical practitioners, among whom should be a cardiologist and a neurologist.
The order came after the court dismissed a no-case submission the embattled IPOB leader filed to be discharged and acquitted of the seven-count charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
The court gave the medical body eight days to submit its assessment report on Kanu’s health before it.
The report, the court said, would assist it in determining whether or not it should grant Kanu’s request to be transferred to the National Hospital in Abuja for adequate medical attention.
However, following the clear bill of health, the court has given Kanu six consecutive days beginning from October 23 to open and close his defence.
In the panel’s report submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, part of which was read in the open proceedings, it stated that “the defendant’s ailment is not life-threatening.”
The team’s report concluded that Kanu is fit to stand trial.
Based on the information contained in the report and in the absence of any objection from lawyers to parties, Justice Omotosho said the court was convinced that the defendant could proceed with the trial.
The judge subsequently granted Kanu six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence.
The judge equally granted an oral application by defence lawyer Kanu Agabi, SAN, that Kanu’s legal team be granted a private consultation opportunity with the defendant outside the premises of the DSS.
Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with him (Kanu) could be tapped or recorded by the DSS.
Justice Omotosho also acceded to Agabi’s request that the private meeting with Kanu be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present.
By the court’s directive, the private consultation meeting will be held within the courtroom between 9am and 12noon on October 22, while the trial will resume on October 23.
