- Safiu Kehinde
The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has faulted his medical report conducted by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and presented before the court.
Kanu had at his trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday claimed that the medical report presented by the NMA was corrupted.
This was made known by one of the IPOB leader’s legal counsels, Nnaemeka Ezeofor, who was alongside other members of the defence team ordered out of the court following Kanu’s decision to defend himself.
Speaking after the trial, Ezeofor disclosed that, based on information gathered by them, Kanu had drawn the attention of the court to the NMA medical report after he had earlier filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court over his case.
While the court had insisted on having jurisdiction over the case, Kanu thereafter sought the nullification of the report which was ruled out by the court.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu opted to defend himself in open court. Processes have been filed and motions have been moved.
“He filed motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
“And after the motion was moved by himself, according to what we heard because when he asked to defend himself, the judge directed that all his lawyers who had appeared with him or for him before now should leave the court room.
“We all left except the Senior Advocate of Nigeria who my lord ordered to sit back.
“I understand that the court insisted that they have jurisdiction and they will continue to hear the matter.
“We were also informed that he raised issue of his medical certificate issued by the Nigerian Medical Association.
“He drew the attention of the court to the fact that the Nigerian Medical Association issued a certificate of fitness on the 23 of September 2025.
“Whereas the court made an order for the NMA to do that report on the 26.
“We noticed that the medical report came long before the order of court was made and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s position is that the medical report is not the one ordered by the court and that the medical report is corrupted.
“My lord said since he has ruled on the medical report, he can’t go back to it and ordered him to go ahead and present his defence.” Nnaemeka said.
While presenting his defence, one of the senior lawyers within the court reportedly urged the court to give Kanu time to reflect and constitute another legal team before presenting his defence.
The court, according to Nnaemeka thereafter adjourned the trial till Friday.
“We understand that a friend of court and requested my lord to grant him some time to reflect and maybe constitute another team of lawyers that will lead his defence team.
“The case is still on. It is adjourned till tomorrow, 24th of October 2025.” The lawyer added.