The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to set up a special panel of medical experts within eight days to evaluate the health condition of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice James Omotosho, who gave the order on Friday, said the committee should submit its report within the same timeframe. The report would guide the court in deciding whether Kanu should be transferred to the National Hospital in Abuja for treatment.
The judge also instructed that the panel should visit the Department of State Services (DSS) medical facility where Kanu is currently receiving treatment to determine whether it has the capacity to handle his health challenges.
According to the court, the committee should include between eight and ten members of the NMA. It must have specialists such as a cardiologist and a neurologist, while the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital in Abuja must also be part of the team. Justice Omotosho added that the experts are free to consult any hospital in Nigeria during their investigations.
The decision followed conflicting medical reports presented by the DSS doctors and Kanu’s private medical consultants.
During the hearing, lead counsel for the DSS, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, informed the court that the security agency had already invited a team of medical experts to examine Kanu in custody. He said the DSS medical team, led by Dr Mohammed Nasir, concluded that Kanu’s condition could be managed within the DSS hospital.
However, Kanu’s private doctors, led by Professor Martin Aghaji, a retired medical professor from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, gave a different assessment. Aghaji said Kanu’s health was deteriorating and required urgent attention at the National Hospital. He also raised the possibility of treatment abroad.
The DSS dismissed Aghaji’s report as exaggerated and suspicious. It accused him of unilaterally changing Kanu’s medications without consulting the DSS medical team that had been managing his condition for four years. The agency argued that transferring Kanu to the National Hospital would disrupt services and create security risks. It assured the court that the government remains committed to Kanu’s safety and was ready to allow him access to any medical expert of his choice within DSS facilities.
On the other hand, Kanu’s lead counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, insisted that the request for transfer was based on professional findings and the fact that the DSS facilities lacked the necessary equipment. He argued that ensuring Kanu remains alive and fit is in the best interest of justice, so that he can face the terrorism charges against him.
Ikpeazu further said Kanu’s legal team would not oppose the NMA’s intervention as long as the process is ordered by the court.
The order is expected to reduce tension over Kanu’s health condition, which has remained a subject of controversy since his detention. Supporters of the IPOB leader have frequently raised concerns about his well-being, while the federal government has continued to insist that he is receiving adequate care under DSS supervision.
The court’s ruling also highlights the growing mistrust between government medical services and private consultants in high-profile legal cases. By involving the NMA, Justice Omotosho signaled the need for an independent and professional assessment that could bridge the gap between both sides.
The panel’s report, due within eight days, will be a decisive factor in whether the IPOB leader continues treatment in DSS custody or is moved to the National Hospital.
