(DDM) – Favour Michael Kanu, wife of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has made a passionate plea to Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja High Court, urging him not to allow her husband die in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Favour Kanu’s emotional appeal comes amid growing fears about her husband’s deteriorating health and prolonged detention despite multiple court rulings ordering his release.
Speaking to journalists shortly after Thursday’s court session, Mrs. Kanu lamented that her husband’s condition had worsened under the harsh conditions of DSS confinement.
She pleaded with the court to consider his right to life and order immediate medical intervention or transfer to a proper medical facility.
According to her, “I am deeply worried because my husband’s health is failing by the day. I beg Justice Omotosho not to let him die in detention. He deserves proper medical care, and we cannot afford to lose him in this way.”
The plea follows recent findings by a medical panel constituted by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which declared that while Kanu’s ailment was not life-threatening, he still required consistent treatment and monitoring.
Justice Omotosho, who is presiding over the trial, had previously approved private legal consultations between Kanu and his legal team, and fixed October 23 for the continuation of defence proceedings.
However, concerns persist among Kanu’s supporters and rights groups that the DSS is not complying with court orders granting him access to his doctors and adequate medical attention.
Human rights activists, including representatives of Amnesty International and the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), have repeatedly accused the Nigerian government of deliberately violating Kanu’s constitutional rights.
They argue that continued detention despite judicial directives not only undermines the rule of law but also sets a dangerous precedent for political and civil liberties in Nigeria.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, has been in detention since June 2021 after being extradited from Kenya under controversial circumstances.
He faces multiple charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and unlawful possession of arms, charges his lawyers describe as politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.
Kanu’s prolonged incarceration has fueled widespread agitation across the South-East, with IPOB members regularly calling for his release and accusing the Federal Government of bias and persecution.
Mrs. Kanu’s latest appeal has reignited public debate about the fairness of Nigeria’s judicial process, particularly in cases involving political figures and separatist movements.
Observers note that Justice Omotosho’s next ruling on the matter could have major implications for both the ongoing trial and the government’s handling of politically sensitive prosecutions.
As the October 23 defence session approaches, supporters of Kanu continue to demand that the court enforce his fundamental rights, calling for transparency, medical access, and adherence to the rule of law.
With emotions running high, Mrs. Kanu’s tearful plea serves as a reminder of the human cost behind Nigeria’s most contentious political trial in recent history.
