- Urges court to order fresh health examination
Detained self acclaimed leader of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has faulted the medical report by a team of experts constituted by the President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to ascertain his (Kanu) health status.
In a fresh suit he filed before the HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kanu is paying the court to among others, order the he should be examined afresh by a new team of experts assembled by the NMA.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, before which Kanu is being tried for terrorism related offences, had ordered the NMA president to constitute a team of medical experts to examine Kanu and confirm if he was fit to continue to stand trial.
The court’s decision was informed by discrepancies in the medical reports submitted to the court by the prosecution and Kanu’s legal team.
The NMA’s team submitted a report to the court on September 23 stating among others, that Kanu did not suffer from life threatening ailments and that he was fit to stand trial.
In the suit filed for him by Maxwell Opara (a member of the legal team he once sacked),Kanu is claiming among others, tha the medical report was fabricated.
Listed as defendants in the suit are: The NMB, its President, Dr. Bala Mohammed Audi and members of the team the issued the medical report.
They are: Dr. Benjamin Egbon O; Prof Emem Abraham, Dr. Ajibare Adeola, Dr. Temitope Farombi, Dr. Sunday Samson Owolade, Dr. Mustaoha Said Salihu, Dr. Yarima Suleiman Yusuf, Dr. Nwosu Ekeoma and Dr. Benjamin Oluwatosin Olowojebutu.
He accused the defendants of malice, negligence and professional misconduct, which particulars he claimed, included that they failed to perform the duty imposed on them by the court to personally examine the claimant.
Kanu claimed that the defendants knowingly issued a false and misleading medical report and acted in bad faith, reckless disregard, and gross dereliction of professional ethics.
He also accused them of conspiring “to pervert and in fact perverted the course of justice” and “caused avoidable pain and injury to the claimant’s person and reputation. “
Kanu stated in a statement of claim, that no medical examination was conducted on him as ordered by the court.
He stated that “while standing trial at the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, he experienced a significant deterioration in his health condition.
“Consequently, through his counsel, the claimant (Kanu) submitted a medical report to the trial court evidencing his ill-health and praying for either bail or access to proper medical care.
“The prosecution challenged the authenticity of the said medical report, prompting the honourable court to order the Nigerian Medical Association to constitute a committee to examine the claimant and to make an independent medical report on his state of health and fitness to stand trial while in detention.
“Pursuant to the said order, the first defendant – Nigerian Medical Association – acting through its President; the second defendant, was to constitute a panel and physically examine the claimant at the place of his detention.
“The claimant avers that at no time did the second defendant or any committee of the first defendant visited, interviewed, or examined him medically in compliance with the order of the court.
“Shockingly, the defendants purportedly forged, prepared and submitted a false medical report dated 23™ September, 2025 to Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ CR/383 2015.
“The said report is a fabrication, made without any medical examination or consultation with the Claimant and constitutes a gross professional misconduct, perjury, reckless disregard for the authority of the court and the rights of the Claimant.
“The false report was intended to mislead the court and in fact, it did mislead the court, discredited the claimant’s genuine medical condition and subjected him to further suffering, pain, and risk of irreversible deterioration in health
“As a direct result of the defendants’ false report, the trial court relied on same to deny the claimant access to adequate medical treatment and/or bail leading to further worsening of his health, emotional distress, and reputational injury.
“The claimant has suffered and continues to suffer significant physical and psychological harm, as well as humiliation and violation of his constitutional right to dignity of the human person under Section 34(1)a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
He is seeking the following reliefs:
*A declaration that the purported medical report dated 23rd September, 2025 submitted by the defendants to the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 is false, fabricated, and made in violation of the order of the court and the professional ethics of medical practice.
*A declaration that the Defendants’ conduct constitutes a gross violation of the claimant’s right to fair bearing and to dignity of human person as guaranteed under Sections 34 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
*An order directing the defendants to withdraw and publicly retract the said false medical report.
*An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies or assigns from further publishing or relying on any false or unverified medical report concerning the Claimant.
*An order compelling the Nigerian Medical Association to conduct a proper, independent medical examination of the Claimant by competent specialists not connected with the Defendants herein.
*An award of general damages in the sum of N50billion for injury to health, reputation, emotional distress, and violation of the Claimant’s fundamental rights.
*An award of exemplary Damages in the sum of N500million for malicious fabrication and abuse of professional authority.
*An award of the sum of N15m being cost of this action.
