The medical expert who conducted an independent medical assessment of the health condition of the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, has been arrested.
The arrest of Aghaji was made public by legal practitioner, Chief Barrister Maxwell Opara, on Saturday, who claimed that the professor was arrested at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu State, on Friday, July 3, 2026.
According to Opara, Prof. Aghaji had issued an independent medical report on Kanu’s health, which he said contradicted the official medical report earlier presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a statement, Opara said, “Information has reached me that Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, the medical expert who reportedly issued independent medical reports on the health condition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was arrested at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu State, on 3rd July, 2026.”
He further stated, “Prof. Aghaji’s reported medical assessments were said to have countered the official medical report presented by the Department of State Services, DSS.”
The lawyer did not provide further details regarding the circumstances of the reported arrest, including the agency responsible for carrying it out or whether any charges had been filed against the professor.
However, he expressed concerns over the development and urged relevant professional bodies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that due process is followed in handling the matter.
“We call on the Nigerian Medical Association, Nigeria Bar Association, Civil Society Group and other relevant authorities to ensure that due process and the rule of law are strictly observed and nobody should be intimidated for speaking the truth,” he stated.
The arrest came amid sustained legal proceedings involving Kanu, whose detention and health condition have remained subjects of public attention and legal contest.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of the arrest from the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force or any other security agency.
In October 2025, a medical examination by the NMA revealed alarming details about the deteriorating health of the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The report highlighted a pattern of worsening symptoms, which medical experts warn could become life-threatening without urgent intervention.
The document titled: “Nigerian Medical Association Independent Investigative (Multidisciplinary) Medical Report on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” and dated September 23, 2025, highlighted that the 58-year-old has been battling multiple complications, including severe fatigue, blurred vision, chest pain, urinary difficulty, recurrent nosebleeds, numbness in the limbs, and episodes of spontaneous hematuria (blood in urine).
“He developed generalised fatigue and muscle weakness, worse on waking up from sleep and does not get worse with activity,” the NMA report stated.
