The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed concern over the recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja which upheld the report of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) declaring that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is medically fit to stand trial.
A statement issued on Friday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the decision as “a travesty of justice” and alleged that it reflects “unequal treatment before the law.”
The group said it was worried that the Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, appeared to be applying selective standards in the handling of politically sensitive cases.
According to HURIWA, the decision to constitute an NMA panel to evaluate Kanu’s health was “unprecedented” and “discriminatory,” noting that no other defendant facing political or criminal charges had been subjected to such a process before seeking medical treatment.
The association said the approach contrasts with previous judicial precedents in which courts granted defendants leave to travel abroad for medical care without requiring government-controlled medical panels.
It cited several examples, including the January 2025 ruling permitting former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku to travel to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment despite facing fraud allegations; the July 2022 order allowing former Imo Governor Rochas Okorocha to travel to the United Kingdom for medical care; and the 2015 decision that granted former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) permission to travel abroad for treatment.
HURIWA also referenced similar rulings in favour of former Bayelsa Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Imo Governor Ikedi Ohakim, and former Jigawa Governor Saminu Turaki.
“When politically exposed persons accused of corruption and other offenses have been allowed to travel abroad for medical care without any government-imposed evaluation,” the group said, “the decision in Nnamdi Kanu’s case raises legitimate questions of consistency and fairness.”
The rights organisation alleged that the case forms part of a broader pattern of political discrimination, claiming that “certain regions and individuals are being subjected to harsher standards.”
It urged the Federal Government to ensure that justice is applied uniformly across all cases, irrespective of ethnic, political, or religious considerations.
HURIWA also expressed concern over what it described as “uneven application of justice” in the country. It referenced the recent release of Bello Bodejo, National President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, from custody after his arrest in 2024, noting that the continued detention of Kanu despite multiple court orders for his release sends the wrong message about equality before the law.
“The appearance of selective justice” HURIWA said “undermines national cohesion and erodes citizens’ confidence in the judicial process.”
The group criticized the NBA for warning Nigerians against participating in peaceful protests demanding Kanu’s release. HURIWA described the NBA’s position as “disappointing and inconsistent with its long-standing role as a defender of civil liberties”.
“It is unfortunate that an association of lawyers, which should stand at the forefront of protecting constitutional rights, appears to be discouraging citizens from exercising their freedom of peaceful assembly,” Onwubiko said.
The group noted, “The right to protest is a core democratic value and not a privilege to be granted or withdrawn at will.”
The group urged NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) to clarify the association’s position on the matter, saying silence could be misconstrued as an endorsement of government pressure on civil society.
Reiterating its call for Kanu’s release, HURIWA maintained that the continued detention of the IPOB leader had become “an obstacle to genuine reconciliation and peace-building efforts” in the South East.
The organisation appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize dialogue, fairness, and justice in addressing grievances in the region.
“The path to peace lies in upholding the Constitution and ensuring that no individual or region feels targeted by state power,” HURIWA added.
