The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja delivered a momentous judgment on Thursday, ruling in favor of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Binta Nyako ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to grant Kanu access to his medical records and allow him to consult with his chosen medical professionals.
The court emphasized that Kanu, as a citizen, is constitutionally entitled to obtain his medical records and have the freedom to engage with medical experts of his choice.
In her judgment, Justice Nyako dismissed the objections raised by the security agency, stating that they lacked merit.
The ruling follows a suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu through his legal team, led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, seeking to exercise his right to an independent medical examination.
The IPOB leader expressed the need to ascertain his actual state of health and demanded access to various medical records, including admission records, medical notes, laboratory test results, and more.
Earlier, on October 21, 2021, Justice Nyako had already ordered that Kanu be allowed access to three individuals of his choice, including his medical doctors.
However, the DSS repeatedly denied Kanu access to his doctors, which led to the court’s intervention.
Kanu’s verified affidavit revealed the harrowing ordeal he allegedly endured before his arrest, citing brutal torture, inhuman treatment, and a mild cardiac arrest that worsened his health condition.
Despite being discharged by the appellate court, the embattled IPOB leader continued to be held in solitary confinement, which he claimed subjected him to daily mental and psychological torture.
As part of the judgment, the court directed that the independent medical examination of Nnamdi Kanu should be supervised by the DSS, with the entire process recorded and sealed for security purposes.
