A new legal battle has emerged as the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a N50 billion lawsuit against the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), accusing the body of submitting a forged medical report in his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The suit, submitted before the Abuja High Court, challenges the authenticity of the medical documents that were tendered in court and questions the professional conduct of the medical practitioners involved.
In the suit marked CV/4584/25 and filed by counsel Maxwell Opara, Kanu is demanding extensive redress, including orders compelling the NMA to provide an independent medical evaluation conducted by neutral specialists. The IPOB leader named the NMA, its president Dr Bala Audi, and several medical professionals allegedly involved in drafting the disputed report as defendants. They include Dr Benjamin Egbon, Prof Emem Abraham, Dr Ajibare Adeola, Dr Temitope Farombi, Dr Sunday Owolade, Dr Mustapha Salihu, Dr Yarima Yusuf, Dr Nwosu Ekeoma and Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu.
According to the filing, Kanu accuses the defendants of professional misconduct, negligence, malice and a deliberate attempt to mislead the Federal High Court. He alleges that despite a clear directive from the trial court for the NMA to conduct a physical medical examination on him, no such assessment was ever carried out. He stated that at no point did any member of the NMA panel visit or examine him at his detention facility, contrary to the order of Justice James Omotosho.
Kanu said he was shocked to learn that the NMA panel had submitted a medical report dated September 23, even though no examination was conducted. He described the document as fabricated, false and produced in violation of court orders. He argued that the alleged forgery misrepresented his health status, undermined his request for proper medical care, and caused further deterioration of his already fragile condition while detained.
The IPOB leader explained that his health had worsened significantly during his trial in the long-running suit FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015. His legal team had submitted a medical report to support a request for bail or specialized medical treatment. When the prosecution questioned the authenticity of that document, the court mandated the NMA to constitute a committee for an independent examination. Kanu now claims that the panel disregarded this directive, yet still issued a misleading report that influenced court decisions on his health and trial readiness.
In his statement of claim, he argues that the NMA’s conduct amounted to professional irresponsibility, perjury, abuse of authority and a gross violation of his constitutional rights, particularly the right to dignity and fair hearing under Sections 34 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.
He therefore seeks judicial declarations stating that the contested medical report was fabricated and produced in breach of ethical and legal obligations. He is also seeking orders requiring the defendants to publicly retract the report, withdraw it from the court’s records and refrain from issuing or relying on any unverified medical information concerning him.
In addition to the N50 billion in general damages for alleged harm to his health, emotional well-being and reputation, Kanu is demanding N500 million in exemplary damages for what he describes as a malicious conspiracy to mislead the court. He further requests N15 million to cover the cost of the legal action.
The lawsuit adds a new layer of complexity to Kanu’s ongoing legal challenges and raises serious questions about the integrity of medical evaluations conducted during sensitive judicial proceedings. The defendants have yet to respond publicly, while the court is expected to set a date for hearing the matter.
