The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is medically fit to stand trial, following the submission of a report by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
A panel set up by the NMA President concluded its court-ordered assessment and informed the court that Kanu’s illness is not life-threatening, stating that he could safely participate in his trial.
The medical report, dated October 13, 2025, was submitted to the court by the prosecution team led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and partly read in open court on Thursday. Justice James Omotosho, relying on the findings and noting no formal objection from any party, ruled that the defendant is fit to proceed with his defence.
The NMA panel said it had complied with the court’s earlier directive to independently evaluate Kanu’s health status after conflicting medical reports were presented by the defence and prosecution. According to the association, its examination found that while Kanu has certain medical conditions, they do not pose an immediate danger to his life. “The defendant’s ailment does not constitute a life-threatening condition. He is medically fit to stand trial,” the NMA stated in its report.
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Consequently, Justice Omotosho granted six consecutive days—October 23 to 30—for Kanu to open and close his defence. The judge also approved an oral application by Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), seeking permission for the IPOB leader to privately consult with his lawyers outside the Department of State Services (DSS) facility. Agabi had argued that the defence team feared their discussions with Kanu could be monitored or recorded by security operatives. The court directed that the private meeting be held inside the courtroom, with only Kanu and his legal team present, between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on October 22, ahead of the resumption of trial the following day.
However, Kanu’s defence team has rejected the medical report, describing it as an ambush and a breach of court order. One of his lawyers told reporters that the defence was “taken by surprise” when the document was presented in open court, claiming that it was submitted without prior notice or access for review. “The court had ordered the NMA to examine our client since September 26, and the order was restated on October 8. Yet no proper examination was conducted,” the lawyer said. “What we saw today is a report dated October 13, allegedly based on an informal meeting at the DSS headquarters on September 18—before the court’s directive. That is not compliance.”
The defence argued that the report did not contain any details of laboratory tests or medical evaluations, questioning its authenticity and professional merit. Another member of the legal team accused the authorities of ethnic bias and judicial manipulation, describing the ongoing case as “persecution, not prosecution.” “This is injustice. Our client has already been discharged by the Court of Appeal, yet he is being made to stand trial again,” he said. “Would this happen to an agitator from another region? The answer is no. This is a war against the Igbos.”
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He also criticised the NMA for allegedly submitting a politically motivated report, warning that the association must uphold professionalism and impartiality. “You cannot sit in your office, open your computer, and type a medical report without carrying out an examination. You are dealing with someone’s life. The Nigerian Medical Association should be very careful because this is not only unprofessional but also unethical,” he said.
Nnamdi Kanu is currently being prosecuted by the Federal Government on charges related to alleged terrorism, stemming from his activities as leader of the IPOB, a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria. The court’s recent directive for a neutral medical examination followed disagreements between the prosecution and defence over Kanu’s health condition, with the defence insisting that his failing health should delay proceedings.
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