The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) team, led by its president, has confirmed that the health condition of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not life-threatening.

The team’s assessment followed a directive by Justice James Omotosho, who ordered a neutral medical evaluation to determine Kanu’s true health status after conflicting reports from experts engaged by both the prosecution and the defence.

In the report submitted to the court on 13 October by the prosecution team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adegboyega Awomolo, the panel concluded that Kanu was medically fit to stand trial. Part of the report was read in open court during Thursday’s proceedings.

Relying on the findings and with no objections from either side, Justice Omotosho ruled that the defendant was well enough to continue with his trial.

The court subsequently granted Kanu six consecutive days—beginning on 23 October—to open and close his defence.

Justice Omotosho also granted an oral application by Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), for his legal team to hold a private consultation with their client outside the premises of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Agabi had argued that the defence team feared their discussions with Kanu might be monitored or recorded by the DSS.

The judge agreed to the request and directed that the private meeting be held inside the courtroom, with only Kanu and his lawyers present.

According to the court’s directive, the private consultation will take place between 9 a.m. and noon on 22 October, while the trial is scheduled to resume the following day.