The legal team of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has formally petitioned the World Medical Association (WMA) regarding his deteriorating health condition while in the custody of Nigeria's Department of State Services (DSS).

The petition, dated October 3, 2025, was submitted by the law offices of Bruce Fein in Washington D.C. and addressed to Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu, President of the World Medical Association. The letter was also copied to the Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Director General of DSS, the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council, and the President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

According to the petition, Kanu has been denied proper medical care for four years since his arrest in Kenya and subsequent rendition to Nigeria in 2021. The letter states that the IPOB leader is suffering from life-threatening ailments that developed during his incarceration in solitary confinement.

"I represent Biafran leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a nation with a population of over 70 million. He has been detained in a Nigerian dungeon in solitary confinement for more than four years without a trial," the letter reads in part.

The petition specifically requests the WMA to investigate alleged manipulation of Kanu's medical records by the DSS and to protect independent medical practitioners from potential retaliation for providing medical care to the IPOB leader.

Among the key concerns highlighted in the letter is the role of Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, whose medical intervention is described as "lifesaving." The petition also calls for the immediate release of an NMA medical team's report dated September 22, 2025, which the Federal High Court reportedly directed to be filed within four days.

The letter provides detailed background on Kanu's case, including testimony about his arrest in Kenya, repatriation to Nigeria, and subsequent detention. It alleges that during his initial detention in Kenya, Kanu suffered physical abuse and was denied food, water, and prescribed medications for five days.

Of particular concern is Kanu's reported potassium deficiency, which reached life-threatening levels of 1.9 mmol/L while in DSS custody. The petition alleges that a DSS-appointed doctor, identified as Dr. Nasiru Mohammed, falsified Kanu's test results to show normal potassium levels when they were dangerously low.

The letter also highlights Kanu's ongoing battle with tinnitus, described as a "constant internal 'chirping' sound" that makes sleep nearly impossible and poses significant health risks when combined with his hypertension and other conditions.

"Without immediate decisive action by the WMA and NMA, Nigeria's criminal medical neglect of MNK may prove fatal," the petition warns.

The legal team is requesting that the WMA direct the Nigeria Medical Association to ensure the immediate release of the September 22 medical report, protect Professor Aghaji's role as Kanu's physician of choice, investigate the conduct of DSS-appointed doctors, and establish independent oversight to guarantee medical ethics in cases involving detainees in Nigeria.

Stay updated on this developing story by following BenriNews on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Telegram.