Court orders DSS to grant IPOB’s proscribed leader, Nnamdi Kanu access to doctors over deteriorating health

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 20, 2023, ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to grant Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), access to doctors of his choice.

Justice Binta Nyako in a judgement delivered, dismissed the objections raised by the DSS for lacking merit.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 2341/2022, Kanu had requested the court for leave to apply for an order of mandamus to compel the DSS to allow him access to his medical doctors, among others.

The counsel to the DSS, A. M. Danlami, had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to grant the request, insisting that Kanu has been receiving adequate medical attention in DSS custody.

However, Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome told the court that the health of his client has greatly deteriorated, saying he told the court that a specialised physician hired by the security agency had issued a dire warning that the IPOB leader would not survive if denied access to high-quality medical care.

Nyako while delivering the judgment held that it was within Kanu’s rights to demand and have access to his medical records and medical practitioners of his choice but the independent medical examination should be supervised by the DSS, with the entire process recorded and sealed for security purposes.