Nnamdi Kanu’s Personal Doctor has revealed that his sudden transfer to Sokoto prison puts his life at a great risk.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the lead personal physician to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has issued a serious warning, saying the federal government’s sudden transfer of his patient to the Sokoto Correctional Facility poses grave and potentially life-threatening medical risks.
Kanu, who was convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, was moved from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the far-northern facility less than 24 hours later, on November 21.
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The abrupt relocation has sparked concerns among his medical team, family members, and supporters, who fear the move could worsen his already fragile health.
In a letter dated November 19, 2025, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu which obtained by NewsOnline Nigeria, Kanu’s personal physician, Prof. M. A. C. Aghaji, described the transfer as “abrupt, troubling, and medically dangerous,” especially coming immediately after the separatist leader’s conviction.
Prof. Aghaji stated that Kanu has been under specialised and intensive medical supervision within the DSS medical facility in Abuja. Due to his critical health challenges, the DSS had earlier moved him from its headquarters at Aso Drive to the DSS Hospital on Airport Road for closer monitoring.
According to the doctor, Kanu undergoes medical evaluations three times a week, with frequent checks on his blood profile, particularly his serum potassium level — which he said is dangerously low and unexplained. The IPOB leader is placed on daily potassium supplements as a temporary measure.
The physician stressed that such a specialised routine cannot be maintained in Sokoto, warning that the move “puts his life at risk.”
“His medical team cannot monitor all these in Sokoto. His complex and chronic health conditions require consistent, expert oversight and immediate access to specialised treatment,” he wrote.
Prof. Aghaji also noted the logistical difficulty, pointing out that Sokoto is over 600 kilometres from Abuja, making regular medical evaluations impossible.
“If the three-times-weekly evaluation is severed, he has a high risk of complications that may affect his life,” he warned.
He appealed to President Tinubu and the Nigerian Correctional Service to urgently reverse the decision and return Kanu to a location where he can receive uninterrupted care.
“For the sake of his health, which must remain paramount above all other considerations, I urgently call on the Nigerian Government to immediately reconsider this decision,” he stated.
The transfer came just hours after Kanu was convicted on terrorism-related charges, incitement, and managing an unlawful organisation.
Reacting, Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, rejected the transfer and accused the authorities of plotting to endanger his life, saying, “they want Kanu dead.”
Traditional rulers from Abia State have also condemned the development, urging President Tinubu to consider political solutions to the prolonged crisis.
While Kanu’s legal team is expected to appeal the ruling, his physician insisted that regardless of legal proceedings, his patient’s medical needs “must not be compromised.”
Prof. Aghaji assured the President of his readiness to provide any further clarification needed, adding, “Do not hesitate to contact me if you need any explanation.”
