The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) are harassing his personal physician over an independent medical report on his health.
In a statement issued by the family’s spokesperson, Emmanuel Kanu, the Okwu-Kanu family alleged that Kanu’s independent medical team has been subjected to what it described as “systematic harassment” for carrying out their professional responsibilities.
The family’s concerns follow a petition dated August 1, 2026, which Kanu reportedly wrote from the Sokoto Custodial Centre to the Registrar of the MDCN, alleging intimidation of his medical team and disputing claims about his health condition.
According to the petition, Kanu maintained that he is no longer in the custody of the DSS, having been convicted and transferred to the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Sokoto.
“I am no longer in DSS custody. I have been convicted and transferred to Sokoto Correctional Centre under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Nigerian Correctional Service. Yet, the harassment of my medical team continues unabated, suggesting a coordinated campaign that transcends agency boundaries and constitutes a grave violation of my rights, the rights of my physicians, and the rule of law,” the petition stated.
The controversy stems from conflicting medical reports presented during Kanu’s trial. While in DSS custody, concerns were raised about his health, prompting a Federal High Court order on September 26, 2025, directing that he undergo an independent medical examination.
According to the family, the medical report submitted by the DSS differed significantly from the findings of an independent team of physicians led by Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a cardiothoracic surgeon.
The family further alleged that Professor Aghaji was arrested by DSS operatives during a midnight operation in July, detained for 72 hours after being taken through Lagos to Abuja, and later released.
It also claimed that another member of the medical team, Dr. Charles Ndukwu, was invited by the MDCN for questioning over the matter.
The Okwu-Kanu family argued that the alleged actions against the doctors were unnecessary, noting that the issues arising from the conflicting medical reports are already before the Court of Appeal.
Neither the DSS nor the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria had publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
