By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Private Hospital Ready to Admit, Treat Nnamdi Kanu – IPOB Lawyer
A private hospital in Abuja has offered to admit and provide treatment for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), according to his legal team.
Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, revealed this on Friday while addressing journalists in Abuja amid ongoing debates over the agitator’s medical condition and where he should receive proper attention.
He explained that the government has continued to resist the request to transfer his client to the National Hospital but noted that an alternative option has now been secured.
“Just two days ago, I wrote a letter. A private hospital has also expressed readiness to admit him here in Abuja,” Ejimakor said. “For security reasons, I won’t mention the name of the hospital. But if the government appears to have issues with taking him to the National Hospital, we have given them an option of a private hospital also here in Abuja.”
Ejimakor stressed that contrary to speculations, the application to move Kanu to the National Hospital has not been rejected. He clarified that the matter remains before the court, pending the admission of his medical report by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
He recalled that the presiding judge had directed that a medical panel constituted by the NMA should include a representative from the National Hospital, making the facility still part of the process. “It’s pending, it hasn’t been rejected,” he said.
Kanu, who is standing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism charges, has been in detention since his re-arrest in 2021. His health has become a major concern for his family, legal team, and supporters, who have repeatedly alleged that his condition is deteriorating in custody.
Earlier this month, his lawyers raised fresh alarms, insisting that the IPOB leader needed urgent and specialised medical care, which they argued was beyond what he currently receives. They also pressed for his transfer to the National Hospital, citing both the seriousness of his health situation and the need for independent medical evaluation.
The government, however, has asked the court to turn down that application, arguing that security and other considerations must be taken into account. The latest disclosure by Ejimakor now suggests that the defence is offering a compromise by presenting a private hospital option within Abuja.
The case continues to generate attention, not only because of the high-profile nature of Kanu’s trial but also because of the human rights concerns it raises. His supporters have maintained that ensuring proper medical care for him is a matter of both law and justice, regardless of the charges he faces.
For now, the final decision rests with the court, which is expected to consider the reports and recommendations from the Nigerian Medical Association before ruling on the next steps regarding his treatment.
About The Author
Leave a comment