By Gbenga Ojikutu
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has asked to be transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to Kuje correctional centre.
Addressing the court shortly after being denied bail on Tuesday, Kanu said there is a conspiracy for him to die in the custody of the DSS.
Kanu told the court that he is suffering from cognitive heart disease and that the DSS facility is not well equipped to take care of him.
He pulled off his shirt in the courtroom to show the judge his ribs and chest, as evidence of the treatment he is receiving in DSS custody.
“People will come to see me, they would not allow them. They don’t have a medical facility. I have congestive heart failure. They are patching me up,” he said.
“My foot is swollen. I asked them to conduct surgery, and they said they couldn’t. There is a conspiracy to die in detention. I want to be transferred to Kuje.”
JUDGE REJECTS KANU’S REQUEST
However, Binta Nyako, presiding judge, said she would keep Kanu where she deemed fit, as Kuje was out of it.
She added that it is not uncommon for suspects to escape from Kuje prison as recent history shows.
Kanu who was visibly upset, said he cannot proceed on trial without proper medical attention.
After his extradition in June 2020, the federal government filed terrorism charges against Kanu.
In April 2022, Nyako struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge.
The remaining seven counts were also quashed by the court of appeal on October 13, 2022, with the judge ordering Kanu’s release.
However, on October 28, 2022, the court of appeal granted a stay of execution on its verdict discharging Kanu, after the federal government filed an appeal at the supreme court.
On December 15, 2023, a five-member panel of the apex court reversed the verdict of the appeal court and ordered Kanu to resume his trial before the federal high court.
Moving a fresh bail application on February 26, Aloy Ejimakor, one of Kanu’s lawyers, said the health of the IPOB leader is seriously deteriorating.
Ejimakor added that his client is unable to adequately prepare for his defence in the custody of the DSS.
He said operatives of the DSS “eavesdrop” on confidential conversations between Kanu and his legal team.
However, Adegboyega Awomolo, prosecution counsel, opposed the bail application.
The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) prayed the court to dismiss the application and order an accelerated hearing of the case.
Awomolo said the DSS has been giving Kanu proper care, adding that the IPOB leader has failed to show the court that he would not jump bail.
However, the application was refused and the court ordered the prosecution to call its first witness.
