Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu's Request To Be Transferred To National Hospital

Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu's Request To Be Transferred To National Hospital

Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu's Request: A Deep repairing into Justice, Health, and Politics in Nigeria .On September 26, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a pivotal ruling in the long a awaiting trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a strong group advocating for the freedom of Nigeria's southeastern region.  

For Kanu's team, led by Onyechi Ikpeazu, this is a setback; they had argued the evidence was fabricated and tainted by rendition irregularities. It is in Kanu's interest to clear his name of allegations of bad activities," the judge emphasized, clarifying that this does not imply guilt but ensures a fair hearing. Now, with the defense allocated nine consecutive days to present its case if Kanu is deemed fit, the trial could accelerate, potentially concluding by early 2026—though appeals are unstoppable.The health transfer rejection adds a layer of humanitarian urgency, raising red flags about the right to medical care under Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which was adopted by the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU) in 1981,which Nigeria also has confirmed.

         Reason for Rejecting his request 

Justice James Omotosho not only dismissed Kanu's "no-case submission," declaring that he has a case to answer on terrorism charges, but also rejected his urgent plea to be transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the National Hospital in Abuja for medical evaluation and treatment. Instead, the court ordered the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to assemble an independent panel to assess Kanu's health status and the adequacy of DSS medical facilities, with a report due within eight days. The matter is adjourned to October 8, 2025, for further deliberation. This decision, while procedurally grounded, has ignited fierce debates over judicial fairness, human rights, and the Nigerian state's handling of dissent, underscoring the tensions between security obligations and individual liberties in a polarized nation.To contextualize this ruling, one must revisit Kanu's intense emotional journey 

     His lawyer Report 

Kanu, a strong IPOB leader who was born in 1967, was captured in 2021 by the Nigerian Government in Kenya, through what his lawyers said was practically transferred from one country to another without formal legal procedures—a claim the court dismissed for lack of evidence in this ruling. Since then, Kanu has languished in custody of the Nigerian DSS detention for over four years.

Medical report from the Kanu's team

Meanwhile Kanu's counsel presented a report from Professor Martin Aghaji, a cardiothoracic surgeon, who conducted an independent examination and recommended "closer monitoring and treatment" due to deteriorating conditions, which manifested at the process of prolonged detention. Ikpeazu contended that seeking a second opinion is routine and that the DSS should try their best in securing a private ward at the National Hospital. 

 The Judiciary stands

 Now, a period marked by court time frame where , starvation, and serious bad health condition . His trial, under the Terrorism Act, has become a symbol of Nigeria's enforce penalty on agitating movements, drawing international inspection from bodies like the United Nations and global human rights organisations. Legally, the court's overruling of the no-case submission is a turning point that pushes the trial forward. In Nigerian criminal jurisprudence, a no-case submission is a defense strategy at the close of the prosecution's evidence, arguing that the case lacks sufficient prima facie proof to warrant a response from the accused. Justice Omotosho, in a measured ruling, held that the prosecution—led by Adegboyega Awomolo—had established enough evidence of Kanu's alleged involvement in terrorism activities, such as inciting violence and managing a proscribed group, to require Kanu to enter his defense. 

   In Conclusion

 However, the prosecution countered that DSS doctors, who have managed Kanu for years, provide "the best adequate care," accusing the new physician of illegal prescription without consultation—a move the court viewed suspiciously. Security concerns loomed large: Awomolo highlighted Kanu's "flight risk," citing his history of evasion and boasts of supporter loyalty, alongside

News Source: Chinasa Nworu on X, SaharaReporters 

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