The Detained Biafran's Leader Sued Nigerian Government Over Refusal To Release His Medical Records, Disobedience To Orders

Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has sued the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, for alleged refusal to release his (Kanu) medical records with the DSS in-house medical doctors as ordered by the court.

Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who made this known in a statement said that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court July 20 directed the DSS to among others, avail Kanu of his full medical records from June 21, 2021 till date.

Ejiofor said that “Although Kanu has been examined by medical doctors of his choice outside the facility of the SSS, his medical records with the DSS in-house medical doctors are yet to be released to him, to enable his choice medical doctors make a holistic informed recommendation on his further prescriptions, and plausible medical solution(s).

“Our last check on the extant Act of the National Assembly that created the institution of the State Security Services (DSS) revealed that no Section of the Law provided for the institution (DSS) to be ABOVE THE LAW. Intrinsically, the DSS is under a binding obligation to obey the Orders and Judgment of the Court.”

He stressed that the DSS is not in a position to handpick Orders and Judgment of the Court of Law to obey and those to flout with impunity.

“Otherwise, why was the DSS quick to remand Kanu in their custody on the 29th day of June 2021, upon an Order granted by the same Judge, who has now directed them to avail Kanu of his medical records, and they have failed to comply with the later order?”

Ejiofor added that “Recently, the personnel of the DSS have extended their acts of lawlessness by denying Onyendu access to visitors of his choice, in clear violation of a subsisting Court Order. However, our erudite Lead Counsel – Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has swung into action by commencing contempt proceedings against the Director General of the DSS to demand immediate compliance with all the Court Orders that the DSS is currently violating with impunity.”

He said that “Efforts are currently underway by our erudite Lead Counsel – Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) to secure an imminent date for the Hearing of the Appeal at the Supreme Court following the cancellation of the earlier scheduled date of 14th September, 2023. We shall formally communicate to members of the public once a new date is secured.”