The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned what it described as another disgraceful episode in Nigeria’s judicial system following the adjournment of the terrorism trial of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, October 8, 2025.
According to IPOB, the court proceedings were once again frustrated due to the failure of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to produce a certified medical report as ordered by the presiding judge, Justice Omotosho. The group said the development highlighted the deep-rooted collapse of ethics, professionalism, and respect for judicial authority in Nigeria.
Defiance of Court Order and Erosion of Rule of Law
In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group expressed “utter dismay” at what it called a deliberate obstruction of justice.
“It is a shame that a court of law gave a direct order to the NMA to submit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s certified medical report, yet the association chose to disregard that order,” IPOB said. “This open defiance is proof that Nigeria’s public institutions have lost every sense of accountability and discipline.”
The group described the situation as “a dangerous precedent” where professional bodies now act above the law, noting that such conduct would be unthinkable in any democratic society governed by the rule of law.
Violation of Medical Ethics
IPOB also accused the NMA of committing a “gross ethical violation” by allegedly submitting Kanu’s confidential medical information to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) instead of to the court.
“By sharing private medical data with the AGF — who is the principal prosecutor in this case — the NMA has compromised medical ethics and violated the sanctity of doctor–patient confidentiality,” the statement said.
The group warned that the action not only breaches Nigerian laws on medical privacy but also contradicts international medical standards. “This reckless act has turned the NMA into an accomplice in political persecution rather than a guardian of professional integrity,” IPOB added.
Judicial Weakness and Prosecutorial Manipulation
The separatist movement further accused Justice Omotosho of “judicial weakness” for failing to enforce compliance with the court’s order or penalize the responsible parties.
“A courageous and impartial judge would have dismissed the case immediately after such gross misconduct,” IPOB stated. “Instead, the court continues to allow the Attorney-General’s office to manipulate due process and delay justice.”
The group alleged that the AGF’s decision to withhold the medical report from public presentation proves that it was illegally obtained and likely contains details that expose the state’s human rights abuses against Kanu.
Kanu’s Deteriorating Health Condition
IPOB expressed serious concern over the health condition of its detained leader, claiming that Nigerian hospitals have failed to properly treat or manage his critical medical issues.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is suffering from potassium depletion, sleep apnea, angina, and tinnitus — all resulting from the torture and inhuman conditions he endured during his abduction and detention,” the statement said.
The group accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of pretending to provide medical care while deliberately endangering his life, calling the situation “a slow-motion assassination sanctioned by the Nigerian state.”
Fear of the Truth
IPOB maintained that the federal government’s unwillingness to release Kanu’s authentic medical report stems from fear that it would reveal the extent of the physical and psychological abuse he suffered while in custody.
“The refusal to disclose the genuine report is an admission of guilt,” IPOB asserted. “No amount of delay or cover-up can erase the truth of what was done to him.”
Ethnic Injustice and Selective Persecution
The group also decried what it described as an ethnic and political bias in Nigeria’s justice system, arguing that while violent criminals and terrorist groups roam freely, a peaceful political agitator continues to face persecution.
“It is deeply ironic that those who ignored Kanu’s warnings about insecurity now find their communities under attack, yet they persist in persecuting the man who foresaw and spoke against the threat,” IPOB said.
IPOB’s Demands
The movement called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in line with rulings from international and regional courts. It also demanded that an independent medical team appointed by the African Union and the ECOWAS Court be granted access to conduct a comprehensive health assessment on him.
“Justice Omotosho has lost every moral and legal ground to continue presiding over this case,” IPOB declared, citing the repeal of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013, the very statute under which Kanu is being tried.
A Call for Global Attention
IPOB concluded by warning that continued manipulation of judicial proceedings and suppression of medical evidence amount to “state-sanctioned murder by delay.”
“Justice delayed is not justice denied — it is justice destroyed,” the statement read. “The world is watching Nigeria’s moral decline, and history will judge those who traded truth for power.”
Signed:
Comrade Emma Powerful
Spokesperson, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
