A fresh controversy has emerged in the ongoing trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as one of his lawyers, Barrister Nnaemeka Ejiofor, alleged that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) issued a medical certificate of fitness three days before the court ordered it.
Ejiofor disclosed this to journalists on Thursday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, shortly after proceedings in which Kanu opted to represent himself in his ongoing trial on terrorism-related charges.
According to him, the NMA report was dated September 23, 2025, while the court’s directive for a medical evaluation came on September 26, 2025, raising questions about the authenticity and procedure behind the report.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu pointed out that the NMA issued a certificate of fitness on the 23rd of September, whereas the court made an order for that report on the 26th,” Ejiofor said. “He maintained that the report came before the court’s order and described it as corrupted.”
The lawyer noted that while Kanu raised concerns over the irregularity in court, the presiding judge held that the report had already been officially admitted as evidence since the defence team had not objected to its submission during the previous sitting.
“When the report was tendered earlier, we, the lawyers, didn’t object — possibly an oversight,” Ejiofor admitted. “My lord ruled that since the report was already accepted as official, the court could not revisit it and ordered Kanu to proceed with his defence.”
Ejiofor also confirmed that Kanu, during Thursday’s proceedings, decided to personally conduct his defence, prompting the presiding judge to direct all lawyers—except Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs)—to vacate the courtroom.
“Once Kanu informed the court of his decision to represent himself, the judge ordered all counsel to leave, except the SANs. We complied, and Kanu moved his motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction,” he said.
Kanu reportedly argued that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to try him on the terrorism-related charges brought by the Nigerian government. However, the judge ruled otherwise and continued with the hearing.
Ejiofor added that Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), who appeared as amicus curiae (friend of the court), urged the judge to grant Kanu additional time to reconsider his decision and possibly reconstitute a new defence team.
Earlier in the day, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), who had been leading Kanu’s defence, formally withdrew from the case following the IPOB leader’s decision to represent himself.
Addressing journalists after the session, Agabi said the legal team respected Kanu’s choice, describing it as his constitutional right.
“He has decided to conduct his defence by himself. He has a right to do so. We respect that decision and wish him well going forward,” Agabi said.
All the Senior Advocates of Nigeria previously representing Kanu also withdrew from the matter — a development Kanu confirmed in open court.
When asked by the presiding judge if he wanted a new lawyer assigned to him, Kanu declined, insisting that he would continue to represent himself “for now.”
Following Thursday’s proceedings, the court adjourned the case to October 24, 2025, to allow Kanu to possibly reorganise his legal representation.
“As of today, Nnamdi Kanu has briefed us as his lawyers for this particular case — not for all his cases,” Ejiofor clarified. “Hopefully, by tomorrow, he might reconstitute another team.”
The development adds a new twist to Kanu’s long-running trial, which has been marked by disputes over due process, detention conditions, and alleged judicial irregularities.
Observers say the latest revelation about the NMA’s pre-dated medical report could spark further scrutiny of the prosecution’s handling of evidence in the case — and deepen concerns about fairness and transparency in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched trials.