Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has urged the Court of Appeal to urgently set a date to hear his client’s bail application.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ejimakor said the request followed the Federal Government’s failure to file a reply brief to Kanu’s brief of argument within the stipulated period.
“So, their Brief is overdue. So, it’s unfair to continue waiting for them without considering MNK’s bail application, which is pending before the Court of Appeal,” he told The Guardian.
He said the next fair step would be for the court to promptly consider Kanu’s bail application.
Ejimakor has also filed an application seeking an accelerated hearing of the Appellant’s/Applicant’s Bail Application, filed on June 5, 2026, which remains pending before the court.
The lawyer argued that Kanu’s constitutional right to liberty and presumption of innocence were being violated daily by the continued delay in hearing the application.
He said the Federal Government, which has the burden of justifying Kanu’s continued detention, had not filed a counter-affidavit.
“A single Justice has full vires under Section 10 of the Court of Appeal Act to hear and determine this interlocutory matter.
“Justice delayed in matters of personal liberty is justice denied; the Respondent’s silence cannot be weaponised for indefinite extra-judicial detention,” Ejimakor said.
The development comes amid concerns raised by Kanu’s family over his health and medical care while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The family had accused the DSS and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) of allegedly harassing physicians who provided Kanu with independent medical care.
In a statement issued by Prince Emmanuel Kanu on behalf of the Okwu-Kanu Family, the family also expressed concern over what it described as threats to Kanu’s life, medical neglect and the harassment of his independent medical team.
The family alleged that Kanu’s health was seriously mismanaged while in DSS custody, adding that his condition improved after an independent medical team led by Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji was granted access to him.
According to the family, Kanu’s potassium level improved from 2.1 mmol/L to 2.9 mmol/L following the intervention, while episodes of nosebleeds, fainting, light-headedness, swollen feet and persistent headaches reportedly reduced significantly.
