By Uche Onyeali
Panel of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, constituted to ascertain the health status of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that his ailment was not life-threatening.
Justice James Omotosho had ordered the medical team to ascertain Kanu’s actual health status, following conflicting claims on the issue by medical experts engaged by the prosecution and the defence.
The panel’s report submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), part of which was read in open court during yesterday’s proceedings, stated that the defendant’s ailment is not life-threatening and therefore Kanu is fit to stand trial.
Based on the report and in the absence of any objection from lawyers to the parties, Justice Omotosho said the court is convinced that the defendant could proceed with the trial.
Justice Omotosho subsequently granted the defendant six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence.
The judge granted an oral application by the defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), that Kanu’s legal team be granted private consultation opportunity with the defendant outside the premises of the Department of State Services, DSS.
Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that their consultation with him could be tapped or recorded by the DSS.
Justice Omotosho also acceded to Agabi’s request that the private meeting be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present.
By the court’s directive, the private meeting will hold within the courtroom between 9am and 12noon on October 22, while trial will resume on October 23.
