The team appointed by the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has stated that the ailment reported by the detained self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not life-threatening.
The medical team was ordered by Justice James Omotosho, midway through Kanu’s terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, to determine Kanu’s actual health status following conflicting claims from medical experts engaged by both the prosecution and 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 aloud in open court during Thursday’s proceedings, it was stated that the defendant’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 objections from the parties’ lawyers, Justice Omotosho stated that the court was convinced the defendant could continue with the trial.
Justice Omotosho subsequently granted the defendant six consecutive days, beginning on 23 October, to open and close his defence.
