As several Nigerians and groups fine-tune plans to demonstrate for and against the release of detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on 20 October, a team of medical experts from Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said that Kanu’s ailment over which fears were raised, is not life-threatening.
The team submitted that Kanu can stand trial in court. He is facing trial for alleged terrorism before the Federal High Court Abuja headed by Justice James Omotosho.
The medical team was ordered by Justice Omotosho, midway into Kanu’s terrorism trial to ascertain Kanu’s actual health status following conflicting claims on the issue by medical experts engaged by the prosecution and the defence.
In the panel’s report, submitted to the court on 13 October by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), part of which was read in open court during today’s proceedings, it was stated that Kanu’s ailment is not life-threatening.
The team concluded that Kanu is fit to stand trial.
Based on the information contained in the report and in the absence of any objection from lawyers to the parties, Justice Omotosho said the court was convinced that Kanu could proceed with the trial.
Justice Omotosho subsequently granted the defendant six consecutive days, beginning from 23 October, to open and close his defence.
The judge granted an oral application by defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), that Kanu’s legal team be granted a private consultation opportunity with the defendant outside the premises of the Department of State Services (DSS),where he has been detained since 2021.
Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with him (Kanu) could be tapped or recorded by the DSS.
Justice Omotosho also acceded to Agabi’s request that the private meeting with Kanu be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present.
By the court’s directive, the private consultation meeting will hold within the courtroom between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on 22 October while the trial will resume on 23 October.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Kanu.
