Nnamdi Kanu has initiated a £50 billion lawsuit against the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for allegedly presenting a forged medical report during his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In his latest suit submitted to the High Court in Abuja, Mr Kanu is also seeking an order that compels the NMA to conduct a proper, independent medical examination by qualified specialists who are not affiliated with the defendants in this case.
Mr Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), named the NMA; its president, Bala Audi; and the members of the team that issued the contested medical report as defendants.
The team included Benjamin Egbon, Emem Abraham, Ajibare Adeola, Temitope Farombi, Sunday Owolade, Mustapha Salihu, Yarima Yusuf, Nwosu Ekeoma, and Benjamin Olowojebutu.
A certified true copy of the suit, marked CV/4584/25 and filed on 12 November by Maxwell Opara, was made available to journalists on Saturday.
The IPOB leader accused the defendants of malice, negligence, and professional misconduct, including their alleged failure to fulfil the duty imposed by the trial court to personally examine him.
Mr Kanu claims that the defendants knowingly issued a false and misleading medical report and acted in bad faith, exhibiting reckless disregard and gross neglect of professional ethics.
He also accused them of conspiring “to pervert and in fact perverted the course of justice” and causing unnecessary pain and injury to his person and reputation.
In his statement of claim, Mr Kanu asserted that no medical examination was conducted on him as ordered by the trial court.
He stated that “while standing trial at the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, he experienced a significant deterioration in his health.”
He indicated that through his counsel, he submitted a medical report to the trial court evidencing his ill-health and requested either bail or access to appropriate medical care.
After the prosecution challenged the authenticity of his medical report, the trial court ordered the NMA to form a committee to examine him and provide an independent medical report on his health and fitness to stand trial while in detention.
“Following this order, the first defendant—the Nigerian Medical Association—acting through its president, the second defendant, was to form a panel and physically examine the claimant at his place of detention.
“The claimant asserts that at no point did the second defendant or any committee from the first defendant visit, interview, or conduct a medical examination on him in compliance with the court’s order,” Mr Kanu stated.
He expressed surprise that the defendants allegedly forged, prepared, and submitted a false medical report dated 23 September to Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court.
According to him, the report is fabricated and was created without any medical examination or consultation with the claimant (Kanu).
He argued that such actions amounted to gross professional misconduct, perjury, and a reckless disregard for the authority of the court and his rights.
He claimed that the “false report was intended to mislead the court and indeed did mislead the court, undermining the claimant’s genuine medical condition and causing him further suffering, pain, and the risk of irreversible deterioration in health.”
Mr Kanu is therefore seeking a declaration that the purported medical report dated 23 September, submitted by the defendants to the Federal High Court, “is false, fabricated, and made in violation of the court’s order and the professional ethics governing medical practice.”
He urged the court to declare that their conduct constituted a gross violation of his right to a fair hearing and the dignity of the human person as guaranteed under Sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Mr Kanu is also seeking an order directing the defendants to withdraw and publicly retract the false medical report.
Additionally, he requests a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, or assigns from further publishing or relying on any false or unverified medical report regarding the claimant.
Furthermore, he seeks an order compelling the Nigerian Medical Association to conduct a proper, independent medical examination of the claimant by competent specialists not connected to the defendants.
He is claiming general damages in the sum of £50 billion for injury to health, reputation, emotional distress, and violation of his fundamental rights.
He is also seeking exemplary damages amounting to £500 million for malicious fabrication and abuse of professional authority, along with an award of £15 million to cover the costs of this action.
