Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Trial Stalled as NMA Fails to Produce Medical Report

The terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been postponed yet again at the Federal High Court in Abuja, following the Nigerian Medical Association’s (NMA) failure to submit a crucial medical report on the defendant’s health. Justice James Omotosho has now shifted the continuation of the trial to October 16, 2025.

Dependable NG reports that the postponement was necessitated by the NMA’s inability to present its findings to the court on Wednesday, October 8. Justice Omotosho had previously issued an order directing the NMA President to constitute a board of medical experts specifically to investigate the alleged deteriorating health condition of Nnamdi Kanu. The medical examination is designed to address two critical questions: whether the medical facility at the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters is adequate to cater to Kanu’s treatment, or if he must be transferred to the National Hospital as requested by his defense lawyers. Crucially, the report is also intended to determine Kanu’s fitness to stand for the continuation of his high-profile terrorism trial.

During the proceedings on Wednesday, the DSS counsel, Mr. Suraj S’aad, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed Justice Omotosho that the medical board had communicated that their report was not yet finalized and ready for presentation as the court had directed. The senior lawyer therefore requested a one-week adjournment, allowing the NMA medical board the necessary time to conclude its investigation. With no objection raised by the defense counsel to the adjournment request, Justice Omotosho granted the application and fixed October 16, 2025, for the board to submit its report. The court’s ability to determine the next line of proceedings in the trial, which has already seen a no-case submission overruled, now hinges entirely on the medical findings from the NMA.