‘He is gravely ill’ — lawyer writes EU, seeks release of Nnamdi Kanu

Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has written a letter to the European Union (EU).

In the letter addressed to Samuela Isopi, EU ambassador to Nigeria, Ejimakor urged the EU to appeal to the federal government to release Kanu for medical treatment.

The IPOB leader is being prosecuted on charges of terrorism and has been in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.

On April 8, the trial court struck out eight of the 15 counts in the terrorism charge. The court of appeal later quashed the remaining seven counts on October 13.

Delivering judgment, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Hanatu Sankey held that the federal government flouted the Terrorism Act on the extradition of Kanu.

However, the federal government filed an application seeking to stay the execution of the appellate court’s judgement, and the court granted the request.

While the federal government’s appeal and a cross-appeal by Kanu is pending before the supreme court, the federal government has gone back to the trial court to file an amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.

‘KANU BATTLING LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS’

In the letter, Ejimakor said Kanu is currently battling three life-threatening conditions which require medical attention not available in the DSS facility.

“Your Excellency, in the midst of the forgoing, Mr. Kanu is gravely ill with three life-threatening conditions, namely a serious heart condition, hypertension and low potassium levels,” the letter reads.

“All of these conditions demand specialist medical care and interventions that are not available at the facility where Mr. Kanu is being detained.

“To date, the GON has refused every request for an independent/specialist medical intervention for Mr. Kanu.

“In view of the foregoing and particularly within the reality of Mr. Kanu’s deteriorating health, we hereby most respectfully present the following prayers to your Mission and to the European Union governments represented by your Mission.

“I. Urgently intervene with the Government of Nigeria (GON), urging it to, in the interim, permit Mr. Kanu his human right to seek independent medical care for his grave health conditions.

“II. Intervene with GON, urging it to promptly comply with the said opinion of the United Nations Working Group, particularly as it pertains to the unconditional release of Mr. Kanu from detention.

“III. Intervene with GON, urging it to promptly comply with the ratio of the said judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Umuahia) by restoring Mr. Kanu to his status quo before 19th June, 2021 and otherwise making him whole as was ordered by the court.

“IV. Intervene with GON, urging it to be guided – in all matters relating to Mr. Kanu by the letters and spirit of the United Nations Working Group Opinion, the judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Umuahia), the judgment of the High Court of Abia State and the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria.

“V. Intervene with GON, urging it to cease and desist from further criminal prosecution of Mr. Kanu and to instead constructively engage Mr. Kanu in seeking a political solution to the Biafran question.”