Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, the medical expert who reportedly issued independent medical assessments on the health condition of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has allegedly been arrested at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
The reported arrest, said to have occurred on July 3, 2026, was disclosed in an alert issued by human rights lawyer, Chief Barr. Maxwell Opara.
Opara said information available to him indicated that Prof. Aghaji, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and medical consultant, was arrested after issuing independent medical reports that allegedly contradicted the position of the Department of State Services on Kanu’s health condition.
According to the alert, Prof. Aghaji’s medical assessments had reportedly challenged the official DSS medical report and raised concerns over Kanu’s state of health while in custody.
Opara called on the Nigerian Medical Association, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society groups and relevant authorities to ensure that due process and the rule of law are strictly observed.
He also warned against any form of intimidation against professionals who express independent opinions in the discharge of their duties.
“We call on the Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Bar Association, civil society groups and other relevant authorities to ensure that due process and the rule of law is strictly observed and nobody should be intimidated for speaking the truth,” Opara stated.
Prof. Aghaji is said to have served as Kanu’s private medical expert and had reportedly conducted independent medical checks on him while in DSS custody.
His findings allegedly raised concerns over serious health complications, including cardiovascular and organ-related issues, and recommended urgent specialised medical intervention.
The professor was also said to have recommended that Kanu be transferred to the National Hospital or a foreign medical facility for proper evaluation and treatment, on the ground that the DSS medical facility was allegedly inadequate to manage the complexity of his condition.
The DSS, however, reportedly disagreed with the assessment, maintaining that Kanu was stable and that its medical facility was capable of treating him.
The security agency was also said to have described Prof. Aghaji’s report as exaggerated and suspicious, while raising concerns over alleged changes to Kanu’s medication.
The sharp disagreement between the DSS medical team and Kanu’s private medical expert had earlier prompted judicial intervention, with the Federal High Court in Abuja reportedly directing the Nigerian Medical Association to constitute an independent medical panel to assess Kanu’s health condition.
The NMA panel was said to have examined Kanu and documented symptoms including numbness in parts of his body, lower back pain, blood in the urine and the need for further medical intervention.
The reported arrest of Prof. Aghaji has now raised fresh concerns among Kanu’s legal and medical team over the safety of independent experts involved in the case.
Before the latest development, Kanu’s international legal team had reportedly petitioned the World Medical Association, seeking protection for Prof. Aghaji and other doctors involved in his independent medical evaluation.
They had warned that medical professionals who speak on the health condition of persons in state custody should not be subjected to intimidation, retaliation or detention.
As of the time of filing this report, the circumstances surrounding Prof. Aghaji’s reported arrest, the agency responsible, and the specific allegations against him had not been officially confirmed.
