Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of falsifying his medical records and subjecting him to negligent treatment in custody.
In a strongly-worded petition to the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kanu alleged that his health had been severely compromised by what he described as “inconsistent, falsified, and sometimes outright negligent medical practices” while in DSS detention.
The petition, titled “Grave Concerns Regarding My Medical Treatment and Health Management in DSS Custody: Request for Urgent Intervention, Protection of Independent Practitioners, and Immediate Release of NMA Medical Assessment Report”, was signed personally by Kanu and transmitted through his legal team led by Aloy Ejimakor. Copies were also sent to the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Justice James Omotosho, and the DSS Director-General.
“My health, already weakened by my violent abduction in Kenya, has been compromised further by inconsistent, falsified, and sometimes outright negligent medical practices within Nigeria,” Kanu wrote, urging the NMA to act in line with professional ethics and international human rights standards.
Allegations of Brutality and Falsified Tests
Kanu recalled his arrest in Kenya, alleging brutal treatment before his rendition to Nigeria.
“For eight days, I was chained by the leg to a wall in a pitch-dark room. On the first day, my head was slammed against a car door, leaving an open wound. For five days, I was denied food, water, and medication,” he claimed.
He further alleged that medical tests on arrival in Nigeria revealed a life-threatening potassium deficiency, but insisted that DSS-appointed doctors deliberately falsified subsequent results.
“From the moment Dr. Nasiru Mohammed assumed control, he began falsifying my test results, recording normal potassium levels when in reality they were dangerously low,” he wrote, listing persistent symptoms including fainting spells, severe chest pains, nosebleeds, and swollen feet.
Independent Doctor Credited With Saving His Life
Kanu credited Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, an independent physician, with stabilising his health.
“It was his timely intervention that saved me from imminent collapse. My potassium levels rose modestly, fainting and nosebleeds ceased, and swelling of my feet reduced. He also confirmed broader systemic problems — liver, kidney, and prostate issues, as well as tinnitus, which continues to make sleep impossible,” Kanu stated.
He warned that untreated tinnitus-induced sleep deprivation, combined with his other ailments, placed him at risk of stroke, collapse, or sudden death.
Calls for NMA Action
Kanu urged the NMA to:
- Release without delay its September 22, 2025 medical assessment report, which a Federal High Court had ordered to be filed within four days.
- Protect independent practitioners, especially Prof. Aghaji, from alleged intimidation.
- Investigate DSS doctors for medical record manipulation.
- Establish independent oversight to safeguard medical ethics in detainee cases.
He concluded:
“Without decisive action, this neglect may prove fatal.”
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