Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to immediately set up a team of medical experts to evaluate the health condition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The judge gave the committee eight days to present its findings to the court, which will then decide whether Kanu should be transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja, for further treatment.
Justice Omotosho directed that the NMA panel must, among other tasks, inspect the medical facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) to determine if it has the capacity to adequately manage Kanu’s health needs.
He further ruled that the committee “should be at liberty to make use of any hospital in the country” in the course of its investigation.
The court also specified that the medical team should comprise between eight and ten doctors, including a Cardiologist and a Neurologist, while the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Hospital must be part of the committee.
Justice Omotosho explained that his decision became necessary following conflicting medical assessments presented by DSS doctors and Kanu’s private consultants, who gave differing opinions on his health status and treatment needs.
