Court Sends Nnamdi Kanu’s Medical Motion Back for Reassignment

Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday referred back to the Chief Judge (CJ) a motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), seeking transfer to the Abuja National Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

The motion, filed ex-parte, was presented by Kanu’s counsel, Uchenna Njoku (SAN). However, Justice Liman ruled that the case file be reassigned, noting that the annual vacation of the court had ended and that time had run out for the vacation bench to hear the matter.

The Department of State Services (DSS), represented by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), did not oppose the referral. Liman stressed that while the application raised urgent health concerns, it was filed too late to be considered during the vacation period.

Njoku explained that the application, dated September 1, was served the same day, but he only just received the DSS’s counter affidavit. After conferring with Awomolo, he requested an adjournment, acknowledging the court’s position.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had earlier argued that the IPOB leader’s deteriorating health—including liver and pancreas issues, a lump under his armpit, and dangerously low potassium levels—necessitated immediate transfer to the National Hospital. Doctors’ letters to the DSS had reportedly gone unanswered.

Justice Liman therefore ordered the case file to be returned to the registry for reassignment to the substantive judge, Justice James Omotosho, who is presiding over Kanu’s terrorism trial.