The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged that the arrest of Professor Martin Aghaji, personal physician to its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was an attempt by the Nigerian government to suppress evidence relating to Kanu’s ongoing trial.
Professor Aghaji was arrested at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu, on Friday and released on Sunday. Although authorities have not stated the reason for his arrest, IPOB claimed it was connected to an independent medical report he prepared on Kanu’s health, which the group said contradicted a report presented by the Department of State Services (DSS) during the trial.
In a statement issued on Monday, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful said Aghaji was taken from Enugu to Abuja and later to Lagos before his release, which the group attributed to pressure from Kanu’s legal team and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The group described the arrest as an attack on the medical profession, alleging that lawyers and medical practitioners associated with Kanu’s case have faced intimidation, including threats, unlawful detention and harassment.
IPOB also alleged that Aghaji’s arrest was part of a broader effort to conceal what it described as irregularities in the medical evidence presented during Kanu’s trial. The group claimed a court-ordered medical examination was not properly conducted and questioned the timeline of a medical report submitted in the case.
In addition, IPOB raised concerns about the handling of Kanu’s appeal, alleging that judicial officers involved in the case could face undue pressure. The group called on the international community, including human rights organisations and foreign governments, to closely monitor the appeal proceedings.
IPOB further urged members of the public to examine the court records and medical reports connected to the case, insisting that its leader’s conviction was flawed and should be overturned.
The Nigerian government, the DSS and other authorities mentioned in IPOB’s statement had not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
