BBC Pidgin of Thursday, 9 October 2025

Source: BBC

Court go decide Nnamdi Kanu health mata afta NMA investigation

Di Federal High Court for Abuja, on Wednesday, go decide di issue of di health status of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) who dey stand trial on top terrorism accuse.

Justice James Omotosho, di trial judge for di matter bin fix October 8 2025 to review di report of di Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), wey e bin order to set up independent panel to investigate di true state of health of Nnamdi Kanu.

However, wen di mata start, counsel to di federal govment, Suraj Saida wey be Senior Advocate of NIgeria, tell di court say di NMA panel neva conclude dia report.

Saida beg di court to give adjournment of one more week for di NMA to conclude dia report and submit to di court.

Replying on behalf of di defence team, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) say dem no get any reason to doubt wetin di prosecution tok, so dem no get any objection to dia request.

Justice Omotosho, bifor e grant di adjournment, first remind di prosecution say im bin don grant accelerated hearing to di mata, and im no go like anytin wey go dey delay trial unnecessarily.

E den adjourn di mata to Thursday, October 16 to review di NMA report and decide which way forward.

For di court today, our tori pesin observe say Nnamdi Kanu bin appear slower and duller from di way e bin dey appear bifor. Im eyes no light up as e dey greet im lawyers and family members.

Im appearance look like pesin wey im health no too strong, and even di trial judge admit say im need to get di NMA report to determine weda Kanu even dey fit enuf to stand trial.

Days ago, Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu lawyers, bin tell BBC News Pidgin, say di NMA panel bin don do one investigate on top Kanu health, but e say e no go make any comment on di details yet.

Kanu lawyers dey ask di court to transfer am to di National Hospital Abuja, for comprehensive medical attention, sake of di "life-threatening" condition wey e get.

However, di Nigeria Govment no gree. Dem say even though dem agree say Kanu get health issues, di medical facility for di headquarters of di Department of State Services (DSS) wia Kanu dey for detention, dey well equipped to manage am wella.

Na sake of dis make Justice Omotosho to involve di NMA as a neutral body to check by diasef and advise di court on wetin to do.

Aloy Ejimakor tell BBC Pidgin say im dey aware say di NMA bin don even carry out di investigation on Kanu health on 23 September 2025, days bifor di trial judge give dem di order.

Ejimakor say Nnamdi Kanu younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, bin dey dia during di examination, and im don write to di NMA to ask for di report of dia findings.

Following wetin happen for court dis Wednesday, however, e dey likely say di NMA bin do anoda investigation for Nnamdi Kanu health, different from di one of September 23 wey Aloy Ejimakor tok about.

Already, di NMA panel don torchlight di mata, according to wetin Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu lawyers, bin tell BBC News Pidgin, but e say e no go make any comment on di details yet.

Kanu lawyers dey ask di court to transfer am to di National Hospital Abuja, for comprehensive medical attention, sake of di "life-threatening" condition wey e get.

However, di Nigeria govment no gree. Dem say even though dem agree say Kanu get health issues, di medical facility for di headquarters of di Department of State Services (DSS) wia Kanu dey for detention, dey well equipped to manage am wella.

Na sake of dis make Justice Omotosho to involve di NMA as a neutral body to check by diasef and advise di court on wetin to do.

Aloy Ejimakor tell BBC Pidgin say im dey aware say di NMA bin don even carry out investigation on top Kanu health on 23 September 2025, days bifor di trial judge give dem di order.

Ejimakor say Nnamdi Kanu younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, bin dey dia during di examination.

Dis Wednesday hearing go reveal wetin dey di NMA report and e go decide weda di court go transfer Kanu go hospital, or weda e go remain for DSS custody, or even weda di court go adjourn di mata indefinitely to give di defendant time to treat imsef well.

BBC News Pidgin dey live for court and go dey bring you updates as e dey happen.