The legal proceedings surrounding the urgent medical motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have encountered a procedural delay as the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the case to be reassigned to another judge.
Justice Musa Liman, serving as the vacation judge, ruled today that the motion—seeking Kanu’s transfer to the National Hospital, Abuja for critical medical attention—could not be heard before the court’s vacation period concluded. The judge cited time constraints and an overloaded docket, with over 30 cases scheduled for the day, as the primary reason for the reassignment.
Kanu’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Uchenna Njoku, had filed the motion ex parte on September 1, 2025, following medical assessments that revealed serious health concerns including pancreatic and liver complications, a lump under his armpit, and critically low potassium levels. A formal advisory letter had been submitted to the Department of State Services (DSS), which currently holds Kanu in custody, but reportedly received no response.
During today’s hearing, DSS counsel Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) did not oppose the motion but emphasized that the late filing hindered its consideration within the vacation window. Justice Liman, invoking Section 46(8) of the Federal High Court Rules, ordered the case file to be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a regular court.
The reassignment raises concerns among Kanu’s supporters and human rights advocates about further delays in accessing necessary medical care. Kanu’s legal representatives have urged the judiciary to expedite the reassignment process, citing the urgency of his health condition.