Lawyer says Nnamdi Kanu’s health ‘seriously deteriorating’ as court hears motion seeking his transfer to National Hospital

The Federal High Court will on Monday hear a motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), seeking an order transferring him to the Abuja National Hospital for urgent medical attention.

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Justice Musa Liman had granted the motion ex parte praying for the permission of the court to hear the application during the vacation period in view of its urgency.

Mr Liman, who fixed 15 September for the hearing, ordered Mr Kanu’s lawyer, Uchenna Njoku, SAN, to serve all the processes and the hearing notice on the State Security Service (SSS) for the security agency to respond appropriately.

“I believe that the right to health is as important as the right to life.

“And so I agree that this matter can be heard by the vacation court,” Justice Liman, who is also a vacation judge, had said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Kanu, in the ex parte motion with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, had sought a relief.

Mr Kanu, in the motion dated 2 September but filed on 3 September by Kanu Agabi, SAN, sought an order “granting leave for the applicant’s motion dated 1st September, 2025 to be heard before the vacation judge.”

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Giving an 11-ground argument why their request should be granted, Mr Agabi said Mr Kanu is standing trial before Justice James Omotosho in charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.

He said Mr Kanu, on 19 May, filed an application praying the court to admit him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the terrorism charge.

The lawyer, however, said the said application could not be taken before the annual vacation of the court, hence his continued detention.

According to him, while awaiting the resumption of the court activities, the applicant’s health took a worrisome decline, necessitating the invitation of doctors for the purpose of carrying out a thorough examination of the applicant.

“The examination revealed issues with his health, including organs such as his pancreas and liver, as well as an emerging lump underneath his armpit and dangerously low levels of potassium.

“The doctors have recommended that he be moved to the National Hospital as an interim measure to afford him medical attention and forestall further decline.

“The applicant’s health is seriously deteriorating considering the nature of his confinement, thereby making more pressing the need to bring this application and have the same heard by a vacation judge,” Mr Agabi said.

He alleged that a letter by the doctors to the director-general of the SSS, advising the transfer of Kanu had gone without answer.

He said the urgency of the matter had, therefore, “necessitated the filing of the instant application as a measure to arrest further decline of his health while spirited efforts are being expended to ensure his treatment.”

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The senior lawyer said the grant of the application would not occasion any injustice to the complainant (SSS).

Besides, Mr Agabi said the court “is imbued with jurisdiction to hear and grant the prayers sought in the application.”

Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of Mr Kanu, in the affidavit he deposed to, averred that the IPOB leader recently complained of weakness and pains in his body.

He said this “prompted the invitation of doctors led by the Eminent Emeritus Professor Austin A.C. Agaji, who on 1st September, 2025 at about 2:30p.m.,” told him that several tests were conducted on Mr Kanu in August.

Emmanuel said the doctor told him, at Agabi’s law firm, that it was discovered that the IPOB leader was suffering from issues relating to his liver and kidneys, as well as a dangerously low level of potassium.

“He was further diagnosed with a swelling around his armpit area, which requires urgent attention to ascertain the cause and thereafter to seek appropriate medical treatment,” he averred.