The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to set up a panel of medical experts within eight days to assess the health condition of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a ruling on Friday, Justice James Omotosho ordered the NMA President to submit the panel’s report to the court to determine whether Kanu should be transferred to the National Hospital for treatment.
The judge further directed the committee to evaluate the Department of State Services (DSS) medical facilities to ascertain if they were capable of handling Kanu’s health needs. The panel, according to the ruling, must consist of eight to ten doctors, including a cardiologist, a neurologist, and the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital.
The order followed conflicting reports presented by DSS doctors and Kanu’s private medical team.
While the DSS medical team, led by Dr Mohammed Nasir, insisted that Kanu’s condition could be adequately managed in custody, his private consultants, led by Professor Martin Aghaji, maintained that his deteriorating health required urgent transfer to the National Hospital and possibly treatment abroad.
The DSS dismissed Aghaji’s report as exaggerated and faulted him for allegedly altering Kanu’s medication without consulting the DSS medical team.
Counsel to the service, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, further argued that moving Kanu to the National Hospital could disrupt services and pose security risks.
However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, maintained that the DSS lacked the facilities to properly manage his client’s condition. He said the transfer request was in the interest of justice, stressing that Kanu must remain alive to face his ongoing terrorism trial.
Ikpeazu did not oppose the court’s directive for the NMA to intervene, noting that it would provide an independent assessment.
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