A medical panel set up by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has reported that detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is fit to stand trial.
The panel found that his reported illness does not pose an immediate threat to his life.
Persecondnews reports that the medical team was ordered by Justice James Omotosho, midway into Kanu’s terrorism trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja, to ascertain Kanu’s actual health status.
This followed conflicting claims on the issue by medical experts engaged by the prosecution and the defence.
In the panel’s report, submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), part of which was read in open court during Thursday’s proceedings on October 16, it was stated that Kanu’s ailment is not life-threatening.
The team concluded that Kanu is fit to stand trial.
Based on the information contained in the report and in the absence of any objection from lawyers to the parties, Justice Omotosho said the court was convinced that Kanu could proceed with the trial.
The judge subsequently granted the defendant six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence.
Justice Omotosho granted an oral application by defence lawyer, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), that Kanu’s legal team be granted a private consultation opportunity with the defendant outside the premises of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with him (Kanu) could be tapped or recorded by the DSS.
Justice Omotosho also acceded to Agabi’s request that the private meeting with Kanu be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present.
By the court’s directive, the private consultation meeting will hold within the courtroom between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on October 22, while the trial will resume on October 23.
Persecondnews recalls that Kanu has been in DSS detention in Abuja since he was rearrested in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria on June 27, 2021.
He was arrested by Kenyan security operatives in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
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