Physician to Nnamdi Kanu Alerts Tinubu, Says Transfer to Sokoto Could Trigger Life-Threatening Health Complications

By our Correspondent

The Lead Personal Physician to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has cautioned that the sudden transfer of his patient to the Sokoto Correctional Facility less than 24 hours after his conviction poses serious and potentially life-threatening medical dangers.

Kanu, who was convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, was moved from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the correctional centre in Sokoto on November 21.

The development has intensified concerns among his medical team, relatives, and supporters, who fear that the transfer could aggravate his health challenges.

In a letter dated November 19, 2025, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu — a copy of which was made available to journalists on Saturday — Kanu’s personal physician, Prof. M. A. C. Aghaji, described the move as abrupt, worrisome, and medically unsafe, particularly given that it came shortly after the separatist leader’s conviction.

“As the Lead Personal Physician to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I am compelled to raise the alarm over the abrupt and deeply troubling decision to relocate my patient from the Department of State Services (DSS) Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto,” he wrote.

The doctor noted that Kanu had been receiving specialized and intensive medical attention throughout his detention at the DSS medical facility in Abuja.

According to him, Kanu’s medical condition had previously necessitated the DSS relocating him from its Aso Drive headquarters to the DSS Hospital on Airport Road for closer monitoring.

Prof. Aghaji explained that his team evaluates Kanu three times weekly at the DSS Hospital and conducts blood tests — particularly to monitor his serum potassium level — every other week.

He added that these tests are crucial because Kanu “runs a very low serum potassium level, the cause of which is yet to be established,” and must take daily potassium supplements as a temporary measure.

The physician insisted that such a level of medical oversight cannot be maintained in Sokoto, warning that relocating him to a distant facility without access to his medical team puts his life at risk.

“His medical team cannot monitor all these in Sokoto. His complex and chronic health conditions require consistent, expert oversight and immediate access to specialized treatment,” he cautioned.

Prof. Aghaji also pointed out the logistical difficulty of accessing Sokoto regularly, noting that the state is over 600 kilometres from Abuja.

“His transfer to Sokoto effectively severs Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from this essential medical support system,” he said.

“If the three times weekly evaluation is severed, he has a high risk of complications that may affect his life,” he warned.

Calling for urgent intervention, the doctor appealed to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Correctional Service to reverse the decision and return Kanu to a location where he can access the medical attention he requires.

“For the sake of his health — which must remain paramount above all other considerations — I urgently call on the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service to immediately reconsider this decision,” he wrote.

Kanu’s transfer came shortly after the Federal High Court convicted him on charges bordering on terrorism, incitement, and managing an unlawful organisation.

His brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, speaking on behalf of the family, rejected the relocation in a statement shared with journalists on Friday, alleging that “they want Kanu dead.”

Traditional rulers from Abia State also expressed their disapproval of the conviction and relocation, urging the president to explore political solutions to the matter.

While Kanu’s legal team is expected to appeal the judgment, his physician emphasized that regardless of ongoing legal processes, his medical needs must remain a priority.

He assured the President of his readiness to provide further clarification, stating: “Do not hesitate to contact me if you need any clarification.”