EDMazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has asked a federal high court in Abuja to transfer him from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to Kuje prison facility.
Kanu was arrested on June 25 and extradited to Nigeria to face trial for alleged treason.
After his arrest, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said the IPOB leader was “intercepted through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services”.
Justice Binta Nyako, judge presiding over Kanu’s case, had ordered that he be remanded him in DSS’ custody, pending the continuation of his trial.
But in an application filed on Wednesday, July 14, through his team of lawyers led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the IPOB leader complained that he has been allegedly denied access to his doctors.
Kanu specifically applied for an order of the trial court, “directing the transfer of the Applicant from the custody of the National Headquarters of the State Security Service to the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre in Kuje, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, where he was initially detained before he was granted bail, pending the determination of the charge”.
As well as, “An order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant/Applicant’s custodian, to grant access to his medical experts/doctors to carry out a comprehensive independent medical examination of the defendant/applicant’s health condition/status, while in custody.”
He alleged that he has been “subjected to mental and psychological torture” by the DSS, saying it would be in the interest of justice for the court to order his transfer to the Nigerian Correctional Service centre, which he described as “an impartial facility that has no interest whatsoever” in the outcome of his trial.
More details later ……
ED
