Abuja — Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to hear a motion filed by the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, seeking a transfer from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the National Hospital in Abuja for urgent medical treatment.
The judge explained that his fiat as a vacation judge had expired, meaning he no longer had jurisdiction to hear new matters. He ordered that the case file be returned to the registry so that the Chief Judge can reassign it to another judge with proper authority.
During proceedings, Kanu’s lawyers indicated that they had only recently been served with a counter-affidavit containing 37 paragraphs opposing the transfer request. They requested an adjournment to respond properly, and the Federal Government did not oppose this request.
The motion by Kanu, filed in early September 2025, cited medical reports outlining deteriorating health conditions, including issues with his liver, pancreas, dangerously low potassium levels, and a lump under his armpit. His counsel proposed that the National Hospital be used as an interim location for medical care.
Justice Liman pledged to recommend to the Chief Judge that the reassignment happen and that the motion be heard promptly, given its serious health implications. However, until reassigned, the motion remains unopened.
