Ejimakor requested the EU to ask the federal government to release Kanu for medical care in the letter she sent to Samuela Isopi, the EU ambassador to Nigeria.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has been holding the IPOB leader in jail since June 2021 while he is being tried on terrorism-related allegations. The trial judge dismissed eight of the fifteen charges in the terrorist indictment on April 8. On October 13, the court of appeal subsequently invalidated the remaining seven counts.
An appellate court bench made up of three judges, chaired by Hanatu Sankey, ruled that the federal government had violated the Terrorism Act by extraditing Kanu.
However, the federal government applied for a stay of the appeal court's decision's execution, and the court approved the request.
The federal government has returned to the trial court to submit an amended charge with case number FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 while its appeal and Kanu's cross-appeal are still ongoing before the Supreme Court.
‘KANU BATTLING LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS’
In the letter, Ejimakor said Kanu is currently battling three life-threatening conditions which require medical attention not available in the DSS facility.
“Your Excellency, in the midst of the forgoing, Mr. Kanu is gravely ill with three life-threatening conditions, namely a serious heart condition, hypertension, and low potassium levels,” the letter reads.
“All of these conditions demand specialist medical care and interventions that are not available at the facility where Mr. Kanu is being detained.
“To date, the GON has refused every request for an independent/specialist medical intervention for Mr. Kanu.
“In view of the foregoing and particularly within the reality of Mr. Kanu’s deteriorating health, we hereby most respectfully present the following prayers to your Mission and to the European Union governments represented by your Mission.
“I. Urgently intervene with the Government of Nigeria (GON), urging it to, in the interim, permit Mr. Kanu his human right to seek independent medical care for his grave health conditions.
“II. Intervene with GON, urging it to promptly comply with the said opinion of the United Nations Working Group, particularly as it pertains to the unconditional release of Mr. Kanu from detention.
“III. Intervene with GON, urging it to promptly comply with the ratio of the said judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Umuahia) by restoring Mr. Kanu to his status quo before 19th June, 2021 and otherwise making him whole as was ordered by the court.
“IV. Intervene with GON, urging it to be guided – in all matters relating to Mr. Kanu by the letters and spirit of the United Nations Working Group Opinion, the judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Umuahia), the judgment of the High Court of Abia State and the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria.
“V. Intervene with GON, urging it to cease and desist from further criminal prosecution of Mr. Kanu and to instead constructively engage Mr. Kanu in seeking a political solution to the Biafran question.”
