By Uche Onyeali
Incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has revealed that he had been battling Tinnitus and sleep deprivation in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.
Describing the illness as among the “gravest threats” to his survival, the IPOB leader in a letter of complaint and appeal to the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, said Tinnitus “exacerbates my hypertension”, puts him at the risk of stroke, collapse and sudden death.
He disclosed others to include liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, prostate and white matter disease; sleep apnea and most critically, tinnitus the constant internal “chirping” sound in his ears.
The letter, titled ‘The Danger of Tinnitus and Sleep Deprivation,’ reads partly: “Among the gravest threats to my survival today is tinnitus. The incessant chirping in my ears is more than a nuisance: It robs me of sleep, sometimes making rest completely impossible; It exacerbates my hypertension.
“It magnifies chest pain, fainting risks and psychological strain; it undermines my body’s natural capacity to heal.
“DSS doctors had proposed draining fluid from my inner ear, but abandoned the plan due to the risk of permanent hearing loss. Since then, no serious effort has been made to treat this condition, even though its effects are cumulative and potentially devastating.
“Sleep deprivation, when combined with existing hypertension, organ strain and potassium instability, places me in immediate danger of stroke, collapse or sudden death.
“Neglect of tinnitus and sleep deprivation shows a reckless disregard for the life-threatening impact of untreated conditions.”
Kanu also accused the DSS doctor, Nasiru Mohammed, of falsifying his medical records despite continued symptoms.
“From the moment he assumed control, Dr Mohammed began falsifying my test results, recording normal potassium levels when in reality they were dangerously low.
“When challenged as to why a potassium-sparing drug like Eplerenone was still prescribed if my potassium was supposedly normal, he provided no medical justification.
“Under his so-called care, I continued to experience frequent nosebleeds; fainting episodes and near-collapse; severe light-headedness; unrelenting chest pain on my left side; debilitating headaches; swelling of the feet.
“Over 50 blood samples have been taken during my time in DSS custody, but they have yielded no improvement in my health under the management of DSS-appointed doctors,” Kanu explained.
He informed NMA that DSS subjected his longtime physician, Dr Cfine to intimidation and silence.
“My longtime personal physician, Dr Cfine, who has treated me faithfully for decades, was barred from access and intimidated into silence. This exclusion lasted until the intervention of Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a globally respected surgeon and medical teacher.
“It was his timely intervention that saved me from imminent collapse,” he said.
Kanu revealed that under Cfine’s professional and ethical care, his “potassium level rose modestly from 2.1 to 2.9 mmol/L still below safe levels, but a clear sign of genuine medical progress. My episodes of nosebleeds, fainting and light-headedness ceased.
“Swollen feet reduced and the headaches subsided to an occasional level.
“In addition, Professor Aghaji confirmed and documented broader systemic health problems, including liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, prostate and white matter disease; sleep apnea; and most critically, tinnitus.
“It is no exaggeration to say that without Aghaji’s intervention, my health would have deteriorated beyond recovery. Yet instead of supporting him, the DSS has subjected him to the same pattern of intimidation used against Dr Cfine.”
