The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to constitute a team of medical experts to assess the health condition of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The court ordered the report to be submitted within eight days.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Friday, stating that the medical evaluation will assist the court in deciding Kanu’s request to be transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja for proper treatment.
Kanu, who is facing a seven-count terrorism charge, has been detained at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility.
The court instructed the NMA to set up a committee of 8 to 10 medical professionals, including a cardiologist and a neurologist, to examine Kanu.
The team is authorized to use any hospital in Nigeria for their investigations.
The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital must also be part of the committee.
This order comes amid Kanu’s repeated allegations of executive and judicial misconduct since his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021.
In an open letter, Kanu accused the federal government and some judicial officers of denying him his rights and perpetuating his detention.
He cited previous rulings declaring his abduction and detention unconstitutional and criticized the government for ignoring court orders.
Kanu emphasized that he will not submit to a trial conducted by any judge or court lacking proper constitutional jurisdiction, vowing to uphold his rights regardless of the length of his detention.
The NMA’s assessment is expected to provide crucial medical evidence to support or challenge Kanu’s application for transfer to a facility capable of meeting his health needs.
The court’s directive could influence decisions on detention conditions for high-profile prisoners in Nigeria.
