One of the lawyers representing the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Barrister Nnaemeka Ejiofor, has revealed that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) issued a certificate of fitness on Kanu on the 23rd of September 2025, whereas the court made an order for the report on the 26th.
He maintained that the NMA report came before the court’s order and described it as corrupted.
He clarified that the defence team did not object to the medical report tendered by the NMA, describing the omission as a possible oversight.
Ejiofor made the disclosure in Abuja while addressing journalists shortly after proceedings at the Federal High Court, where Kanu opted to represent himself in his ongoing trial.
“Today, being the 23rd of October 2025, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu opted to defend himself in open court. He filed and moved a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court,” Ejiofor explained.
He noted that once Kanu informed the court of his decision to personally handle his defense, the presiding judge directed all his lawyers to leave the courtroom, except the Senior Advocates of Nigeria who were ordered to remain seated.
“So we left as directed by the court, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as we heard, moved the motion which he filed by himself, challenging the jurisdiction of the court. The court insisted it had jurisdiction and continued to hear the matter,” Ejiofor said.
According to him, Kanu also raised concerns about a medical certificate of fitness issued by the Nigerian Medical Association, which he alleged was irregular and did not comply with the court’s directive.
“Kanu pointed out that the NMA issued a certificate of fitness on the 23rd of September 2025, whereas the court made an order for that report on the 26th. He maintained that the report came before the court’s order and described it as corrupted,” Ejiofor explained.
The lawyer further stated that despite Kanu’s objection, the presiding judge ruled that the medical report had already been accepted as official evidence.
“Because, on the last date before today, when we appeared in court and that medical report was tendered, we, the lawyers, didn’t object to it — possibly an oversight, I think. My lord said that since he had already ruled on that medical report as being official, he could no longer revisit it and ordered Kanu to go ahead with his defence,” Ejiofor added.
He also revealed that a medical expert, Dr. Njeti Nkazo, stood up in court as a friend of the court and appealed to the judge to allow Kanu more time to reflect and possibly reconstitute another legal team.
Ejiofor confirmed that the matter had been adjourned to Thursday, October 24, 2025, with hopes that Kanu might bring in new lawyers to continue his defense.
“As of today, Nnamdi Kanu has briefed us as his lawyers for this particular case — not for all cases. Hopefully, by tomorrow, he might reconstitute another team,” he said.
Former lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had said that his legal team respects Kanu’s decision to personally take charge of his defence in court.
Agabi made the statement on Thursday shortly after formally withdrawing from the case at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Kanu appeared for continuation of his trial on charges bordering on terrorism.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, Agabi confirmed that Kanu had chosen to represent himself, noting that the decision was within his constitutional right.
“He has decided to conduct his defence by himself. He has a right to do so. We respect that decision; we wish him well going forward,” Agabi said.
Earlier in court, Kanu had informed the presiding judge that he would be representing himself after Agabi applied to withdraw from the matter. The senior lawyer told the court that the entire defence team was stepping down, as the defendant had opted to personally handle the conduct of the case.
All the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) who had been part of Kanu’s legal team also formally withdrew from the proceedings — a development Kanu personally confirmed in open court.
Addressing the judge, the IPOB leader stated that he had decided to handle his defence “for now,” though he might reconsider that position later.
When asked by the presiding judge whether he wanted the court to assign him another lawyer, Kanu declined the offer, insisting he would continue to represent himself.
Arguing orally before the court, Kanu maintained that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try him on the current charges brought by the Nigerian government.
