DSS Took My Blood Samples More Than 21 Times – Nnamdi Kanu Cries Out

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday dragged the Department of State Service (DSS) before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing it of grossly violating his fundamental human rights. Nnamdi Kanu, in the suit he filed through one of his lawyers, Barr. Maxwell Opara, alleged that a doctor engaged by the security agency had extracted his blood over 21 times.

The IPOB leader bemoaned that despite an order of the court, he had neither been allowed to have a change of clothe nor practice his religion in detention. Briefing newsmen shortly after he filed the suit, Barr Maxwel Opara said when he visited the DSS detention facility last Thursday, the IPOB leader complained to him that he suspected the doctor extracting his blood to be a quack.

He said Nnamdi Kanu alleged that his demand for the security agency to grant him access to his medical record was repeatedly refused. The affidavit in support of the suit, a copy of which was sighted by Vanguard newspaper, read in part;

“The Applicant is a Nigerian citizen who is entitled to the enjoyment of his fundamental human rights as enshrined in chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and Article 5 and 8 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

“The Respondents have deprived the Applicant access to facility and material to practice his faith and ultimately prevented the Applicant from praying and/or practicing his faith, and the aforesaid constitute a breach of the Applicant’s right to practice his religion.

“The Respondents prevented the Applicant from having access to a medical practitioner and legal practitioner of his choice.

“The Respondent subjected the Applicant to solitary confinement which is a form of mental and physical torture and as such, subjects the Applicant to inhuman and degrading treatment and in turn constitutes a violation of Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

“The Applicant’s right not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment and torture/humiliation is enshrined in Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and People Rights (Ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 Vol. 1 LFN.

“The Respondents have no justification to have subjected the Applicant to indignity, humiliation, mental torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.”

The suit is, among others, seeking “An order directing the Respondents to immediately allow the Applicant access to facility and material for the practice of his religion.”

“An order of this court directing the Respondents to immediately allow the Applicant to appoint an independent medical practitioner of his choice from a certified government hospital to review the Applicant’s medical files.

“An order directing the Respondents to allow the Applicant access to a medical practitioner of his choice and a legal practitioner of his choice.

“An order of this court directing the Respondents to immediately remove the Applicant from solitary confinement.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents, their authorized agents by whatever name so called, from further disturbing or interfering with the rights of the Applicant to dignity of human person and freedom thought, conscience and religion or in any way infringing on the constitutional rights of the Applicant as guaranteed by law or from making any attempt capable of violating the Applicant’s rights as guaranteed under the constitution.”

Barr Maxwel Opara further revealed that Nnamdi Kanu is currently suffering under the custody of the DSS and if care is not taken he might die in the custody of the DSS. He complains that a quack doctor appointed by the DSS took Nnamdi Kanu blood more than 20 times and this has weakened the health of the IPOB leader. He however, called on the international community to intervene and stop the Nigerian government led by Buhari to stop treating human being like slaves and animal.

Austine Ikeru
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