
The Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted forward the hearing date for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to September 26. The case, originally fixed for October 10, will now come before Justice James Omotosho to address Kanu’s request for release and urgent medical attention.
Kanu’s lawyers had filed an application asking that he be moved to the National Hospital, citing a life-threatening heart condition and inadequate facilities at his current place of detention. His younger brother, Emmanuel, also submitted a sworn affidavit detailing the health concerns.
At a recent sitting, defence counsel Uchenna Njoku (SAN) said the government’s lawyers had only just served a 37-page counter-affidavit, leaving no time for proper response. Justice Musa Liman, who had agreed to hear the case as a vacation judge, later withdrew, saying his jurisdiction had expired with the end of the judges’ vacation.
Both prosecution and defence acknowledged the urgency of the matter, with Justice Liman stressing that the health issues could be a matter of life and death. He ordered that the case be reassigned to Justice Omotosho, who is handling the main terrorism trial against Kanu.
The terrorism trial, where Kanu faces multiple charges and has filed a no-case submission, remains scheduled for October 10. However, the urgent health application will now be heard separately on September 26.