Abuja court mandates medical team to examine Nnamdi Kanu’s health status

The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, to assemble a team of medical specialists to evaluate the health status of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice James Omotosho ordered that the panel’s findings be submitted to the court within eight days. He explained that the expert report would guide the court in ruling on Kanu’s request to be moved from the Department of State Services, DSS, custody to the National Hospital in Abuja for advanced medical care.

The judge instructed the NMA to send its medical team to inspect the DSS medical facility to determine whether it has the capacity to adequately address Kanu’s health challenges.

According to the court, the panel should consist of between eight and ten qualified doctors, including a cardiologist and a neurologist, while also mandating the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital to be part of the committee.

Justice Omotosho further granted the NMA liberty to make use of any hospital in the country for its assessment, provided the evaluation offers a clear, independent picture of Kanu’s medical condition.