Follow Us on Google
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and the member representing Umuahia/Ikwuano Federal Constituency of Abia State, Obi Aguocha, yesterday, disagreed over a matter of privilege raised by the latter on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Aguocha, at plenary, raised a point of privilege, citing order 6(2) of the House Standing Order, informing the House that on August 26, 2025, he wrote a letter to the Speaker, President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in respect to Kanu’s health.
However, Abia lawmaker said neither Abbas, Tinubu nor the AGF has responded to the letter on the deteriorating health of the detained IPOB leader.
According to Aguocha, “I wish to draw the attention of Mr Speaker and the House that on the August 26, 2025, I wrote a letter to Mr Speaker, House of Representatives, as well as a letter to the Attorney General of the Federation, and a letter to Mr President, calling for urgent intervention in the deteriorating health conditions of my constituent, Nnamdi Kanu.
“Uptill today, Mr. Speaker, I am yet to receive any response from you, the president or the attorney-general, despite the deteriorating health of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been evaluated by his own team of doctors and came up with a report which was attached to the letter that was submitted to Mr speaker, the president, and the attorney general.
“A second evaluation has been conducted by the Nigerian Medical Association, and the results further confirm the deteriorating health of Nnamdi Kanu that he has organ deficiencies, low potassium, and that he is, as we speak, on the verge of death.
“Mr. Speaker, the court instructed the Nigerian Medical Association to also do their own assessment. So, there are three reports now, Mr. Speaker, all leading in the same direction. I quote the judge: ‘It is only the man who is alive and living that can stand trial.’
“Mr. Speaker, this is not politics or any other thing, but it is a fundamental human right that should be ascribed to Nnamdi Kanu.
Other News
“Most other people in that gap have been given opportunities to even travel overseas to seek medical attention. Nnamdi Kanu is not convicted of any crimes in Nigeria and must be protected under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Addressing the Abia lawmaker, Abbas said: “My dear honourable colleague, I do not see where your privilege is breached here.”
But Aguocha retorted: “I have not received a letter that I wrote to the Speaker. I am a member of the House, and my office deserves a response, whether positive or not. And the letters were received by your office on August 27, right here.”
Regardless, the speaker, who insisted that Aguocha ought to have met with him over the issue, argued that the matter was not properly presented.”
Thereafter, the Speaker ruled the Abia lawmaker out of order.
The deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, in his intervention, sought the leave of the speaker for the motion to be properly presented before the House within the week.
Kalu said: “Mr. Speaker, I’m also from Abia State. On the issue that is being raised by my colleague, we will present it before the House properly in the course of the week.
“We will come properly before the House so that proper hearing will be given to it. I beg that you will give us the audience maybe tomorrow or next tomorrow.”
Abbas, in his response said: “No problem, it’s just the procedure that I was challenging, not the substance of the issue. We will be willing and ready to give you all the time to present it.”
