The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the illness of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not life-threatening.

A medical panel constituted by the NMA President disclosed that it had concluded an independent health assessment ordered by the court and found Kanu fit to stand trial.

About two weeks ago, trial judge Justice James Omotosho directed the association to evaluate Kanu’s health following conflicting medical reports submitted by the prosecution and the defence.

Kanu is currently facing terrorism-related charges filed by the Federal Government.

According to the panel’s report which submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and partly read in open court on Thursday, the defendant’s condition poses no immediate danger to his life.

Relying on the findings and in the absence of any objection from the parties, Justice Omotosho ruled that the court was satisfied that Kanu was medically fit to continue with his trial.

The judge subsequently granted Kanu six consecutive days, beginning October 23, to open and close his defence.

Additionally, Justice Omotosho approved an oral application by Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), for a private consultation between the IPOB leader and his legal team outside the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Agabi had argued that the defence team feared their discussions with Kanu were being monitored by the DSS. The court ruled that the meeting be held within the courtroom, with only Kanu and his lawyers present, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on October 22, ahead of the trial’s resumption the following day.