By Prosper Olayiwola
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has has given a clean bill of health saying the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not life-threatening.
The panel was constituted on the directive of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja to independently verify Kanu’s health status, following conflicting medical reports presented by the prosecution and the defence.
According to the report, which was submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and partially read in court on Thursday, Kanu was declared fit to stand trial.
Relying on the panel’s findings and without any objection from either side, Justice Omotosho ruled that the trial should proceed, granting the IPOB leader six consecutive days, beginning October 23, to open and close his defence.
The judge also approved an oral application from Kanu’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), requesting a private meeting between Kanu and his legal team outside the Department of State Services (DSS) premises, citing concerns that their discussions might be recorded.
Justice Omotosho directed that the private consultation be held in the courtroom between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on October 22, with only Kanu and his lawyers present. The trial is expected to resume the following day, October 23.