Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has sued Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), accusing the body of presenting a false medical report that claimed he was healthy enough to stand trial.
Gatekeepers News reports that the report was issued by a panel set up by the NMA president following a federal high court order for an assessment of Kanu’s health.
On September 26, Justice James Omotosho directed the NMA president to assemble a team of medical experts to evaluate Kanu, following an application seeking to move him from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody to the National Hospital in Abuja for treatment.
Kanu had earlier told the court that his health had worsened in detention, pointing to medical findings that indicated liver and pancreatic issues, a lump under his armpit, and extremely low potassium levels.
However, when the panel presented its report in open court on October 16, it concluded that Kanu was fit to face trial. Kanu has now approached the high court in the Federal Capital Territory with a fresh suit, insisting that the document was fabricated and asking for another medical examination by a different team.
The suit, filed by lawyer Maxwell Opara, lists the NMA, its president Bala Audi, and every member of the medical panel as defendants. They include Benjamin Egbon, Emem Abraham, Ajibare Adeola, Temitope Farombi, Sunday Samson Owolade, Mustaoha Said Salihu, Yarima Suleiman Yusuf, Nwosu Ekeoma and Benjamin Oluwatosin Olowojebutu.
The document reads, “The claimant avers that at no time did the second defendant or any committee of the first defendant visit, interview, or examine him medically in compliance with the order of the court.”
“Shockingly, the defendants purportedly forged, prepared, and submitted a false medical report dated 23rd 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).”
Kanu is asking the court to declare that the actions of the defendants breached his right to a fair hearing and right to dignity under sections 34 and 36 of the Constitution. He also wants the court to order the withdrawal and public retraction of the medical report.
Additionally, he is seeking 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, as well as a directive compelling the NMA to carry out a new independent medical assessment by specialists who are not connected to the current defendants.
Kanu is demanding N50 billion as general damages for harm to his health, reputation, and emotional well-being, along with N500 million in exemplary damages for what he describes as the deliberate fabrication of the report.
