Judge Sends Nnamdi Kanu’s Medical Transfer Request to Chief Judge for Reassignment

Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja has referred a motion filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to the Chief Judge for reassignment. Kanu is seeking an order directing his transfer to the National Hospital in Abuja for urgent medical attention.

At Monday’s sitting, Kanu’s counsel, Uchenna Njoku (SAN), applied for the matter to be returned to the Chief Judge since the court’s annual vacation ends today. Justice Liman, in a brief ruling, agreed and directed that the case file be sent back to the registry for reassignment. Counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), did not oppose the application.

Earlier in the day, Justice Liman had noted that the vacation court was unable to take all the cases listed before it, with the registrar presenting no fewer than 30 matters, eventually pruned down to six. He explained that under Section 46(8) of the Federal High Court Rules, any case not completed during the vacation must be returned to the Chief Judge. While acknowledging the urgency of Kanu’s health-related motion, the judge observed that it was filed late.

Awomolo, representing the DSS, said the court had the discretion to determine which matters to hear and described the late filing as unfortunate. He stressed that if the application had been submitted earlier, it could have been heard during the vacation. He added that the DSS was ready to respond to the motion whenever it is heard.

With the referral order, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court will now determine the reassignment of Kanu’s application.