Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has raised alarm over his deteriorating health while being held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a letter of complaint and appeal to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kanu disclosed that he is suffering from tinnitus and sleep deprivation, which he described as some of the “gravest threats” to his survival. He explained that tinnitus a constant internal “chirping” sound in his ears worsens his hypertension and exposes him to the risk of stroke, collapse, and sudden death.
The IPOB leader also revealed that he is battling multiple organ-related ailments, including diseases of the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and prostate, in addition to white matter disease and sleep apnea.
The letter, titled “The Danger of Tinnitus and Sleep Deprivation”, partly reads:
“Among the gravest threats to my survival today is tinnitus. The incessant chirping in my ears is more than a nuisance: It robs me of sleep, sometimes making rest completely impossible; It exacerbates my hypertension. It magnifies chest pain, fainting risks, and psychological strain; It undermines my body’s natural capacity to heal. DSS doctors once proposed to drain fluid from my inner ear but abandoned the plan due to the risk of permanent hearing loss. Since then, no serious effort has been made to treat this condition, even though its effects are cumulative and potentially devastating.”
Kanu further accused a DSS doctor, Dr. Nasiru Mohammed, of falsifying his medical records by recording “normal potassium levels” despite evidence to the contrary. He claimed that under Dr. Mohammed’s care, his conditions worsened, with recurring nosebleeds, fainting episodes, chest pains, severe headaches, and swollen feet, despite undergoing over 50 blood tests.
He also alleged that his longtime personal physician, Dr. Cfine, who had treated him for decades, was denied access and “intimidated into silence” until Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a globally respected surgeon, intervened.
According to Kanu, Prof. Aghaji’s intervention brought modest improvements to his health, including an increase in potassium levels, reduced swelling in his feet, and eased headaches. However, he lamented that tinnitus continues to deprive him of sleep, making life “unbearable.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that without Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji’s intervention, my health would have deteriorated beyond recovery. Yet instead of supporting him, the DSS has subjected him to the same pattern of intimidation used against Dr. Cfine,” Kanu stated.
