Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court has ruled in favor of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), granting him permission to avail the medical services of his preferred doctor during his time in the custody of the State Security Service.
The court upheld Kanu’s right to choose his medical practitioner, but also emphasized that any associated expenses would be borne by Kanu himself. The decision came as a result of a suit filed by Kanu through his legal team, led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, seeking an order of mandamus to ensure unrestricted access to his private physicians.
Justice Nyako asserted that while Kanu is under investigative custody by the DSS, he is entitled to receive medical examination at his own expense. Furthermore, the court clarified that the medical examinations conducted outside the DSS facility must be overseen by Kanu’s team of doctors, and the resulting reports should be sealed for security purposes.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako declared, “The Application on the whole succeeds and is hereby granted,” solidifying Kanu’s entitlement to his medical records and ensuring that the DSS refrains from interfering with this right. This landmark decision marks a significant step in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s detention.
