Lawyer alleges arrest of medical expert who issued independent health report on Nnamdi Kanu

A human rights lawyer, Barrister Maxwell Okpara, has alleged that Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a medical expert who reportedly issued an independent medical assessment of the health condition of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been arrested in Enugu State.

Okpara made the allegation in a statement released on Saturday, claiming that the respected medical practitioner was arrested at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu, on Friday, July 3, 2026.

According to the lawyer, Professor Aghaji’s arrest came after he reportedly submitted an independent medical report on Kanu during the IPOB leader’s ongoing trial.

Okpara alleged that Aghaji’s medical findings contradicted the official medical report presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).

“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 July 3, 2026,” the statement read.

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He further stated that Aghaji’s reported medical assessments challenged the position contained in the DSS medical report submitted before the court.

While noting that the reason for the professor’s arrest had not been made public, Okpara called on professional bodies and civil society organisations to intervene and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.

He specifically appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and other relevant stakeholders to demand Aghaji’s release and ensure that his rights are protected.

“We call on the Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Bar Association, civil society groups and other relevant authorities to ensure that due process and the rule of law are strictly observed and that nobody should be intimidated for speaking the truth,” Okpara said.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the DSS or any other security agency confirming or explaining the alleged arrest of Professor Aghaji. Similarly, the Nigerian authorities have not responded to the claims made by the human rights lawyer.