Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has written to the European Union, EU, Delegation to Nigeria over his deteriorating health.
Kanu informed the delegation that he is ill with three life-threatening conditions.
He urged the EU delegation to prevail on the Federal Government to allow him to seek independent medical care.
The IPOB leader made the appeal through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, in a letter to the EU delegation.
In a letter, Kanu lamented that the Nigerian Government had refused to release him despite several court orders granting him bail.
He also urged the EU to prevail on the Nigerian Government to cease and desist from further criminal prosecution and engage him in seeking a political solution to the Biafran question.
The letter reads partly: “Urgent Appeal for the diplomatic and humanitarian intervention of your Mission in urging the Government of Nigeria to implement the Opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria regarding Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; and in the interim, to accord Mr. Kanu his human right to seek independent medical care for his ailments.
“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. 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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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 judgement of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria.
“Your Excellency, our decision to lay this matter before the EU Mission in Nigeria (and by extension, to your home governments) was propelled by the stellar human rights record of the European Union and the supranational diplomatic influence the EU or the Mission can bring to bear on the Government of Nigeria and persuade it to do the right thing. We are also very alarmed at the worsening health conditions of Mr. Kanu, exacerbated by the inhumane detention conditions to which he is being subjected, including his solitary confinement since 27th June, 2021.”
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