Abuja |October 7, 2025 —
A tense atmosphere gripped the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday following a heated exchange between the lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Obi Aguocha, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas over the worsening health condition of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Rising on a point of privilege during plenary, Hon. Aguocha expressed deep frustration that a letter he submitted on August 26 to the Speaker, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had not been acknowledged.
The letter, he said, was an appeal for urgent medical attention for Kanu, whose health had reportedly deteriorated while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Quoting findings from a recent medical assessment, Aguocha said, “The Nigerian Medical Association conducted a second medical evaluation and confirmed that Nnamdi Kanu’s condition has worsened. He now suffers from organ deficiencies and dangerously low potassium levels. As we speak, Nnamdi Kanu is on the verge of death. This is a humanitarian emergency that should not be ignored.”
The lawmaker further clarified that his intervention was not politically motivated but purely guided by constitutional and humanitarian concerns.
“I am not here to make a political statement,” he stated.
“I am here to speak for justice, fairness, and the sanctity of human life. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not been convicted of any offence under Nigerian law, and as such, he deserves protection under the Constitution. It is our duty as lawmakers to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of their political beliefs, is treated with dignity and fairness.”
However, Speaker Abbas faulted Aguocha’s decision to raise the issue under a point of privilege, stating that the plenary floor was not the proper avenue for such matters.
“If this is a matter directed at my office, Honourable, I find it surprising that you chose to raise it under privilege,” Abbas remarked.
“You have direct access to my office, and this is not the appropriate time or platform to pursue this kind of discussion.”
In response, Aguocha stood his ground, insisting that he had made several efforts to reach the Speaker privately without receiving any update.
He said, “I have personally visited your office, Mr. Speaker, and there has been no feedback. This issue is not about protocol; it is a matter of life and death. The House cannot fold its arms while a Nigerian citizen dies in detention. We must rise above politics and uphold justice.”
Unmoved, Speaker Abbas ruled Aguocha out of order, maintaining that he was under no obligation to reveal any action taken regarding the letter. He further stressed that follow-up communications of such nature should not be raised during plenary sessions.
Despite the ruling, Aguocha maintained that the House rules permitted him to raise matters of privilege and appealed to his colleagues to treat Kanu’s situation as an urgent national concern.
Nnamdi Kanu has remained in DSS custody since his controversial extradition from Kenya in June 2021. He faces terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja. His legal team and several South-East leaders have persistently called for his release or at least a transfer to a medical facility, citing grave health challenges. Multiple court applications seeking his medical transfer have, however, been rejected.
The confrontation between Hon. Aguocha and Speaker Abbas has reignited national debate over the continued detention of the IPOB leader and the need for humanitarian consideration. Many observers say the episode underscores the growing tension between justice, politics, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s democratic system.
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