A confrontation occurred on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday, involving Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Obi Aguocha, the representative for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, as they debated the deteriorating health of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
During the plenary session, Aguocha, speaking under personal privilege, accused the Speaker, President Bola Tinubu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation of neglecting the letters he sent in August, which requested urgent intervention regarding Kanu’s declining medical condition.
The lawmaker stated that multiple medical evaluations, including one mandated by the Federal High Court and conducted by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), confirmed that Kanu was critically ill, suffering from organ failures and dangerously low potassium levels.
“Mr. Speaker, my constituent, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is on the brink of death. Three medical assessments, including one from the NMA, have all verified this. The court itself has indicated that only a living person can stand trial. This is not a political issue; it is a matter of fundamental human rights. Numerous others facing trial have been permitted to travel abroad for medical treatment; however, Kanu, who has not been convicted of any crime, is being denied that right.”
In response, Abbas criticized the lawmaker’s method, asserting that the matter should not have been raised under privilege and could have been addressed through direct communication with his office.
“I find it remarkable that you would approach this matter through privilege to demand action. If a letter had been sent to my office, a phone call or a visit could have resolved the issue. This is not the type of matter that should be raised under privilege,” Abbas remarked.
The discussion quickly escalated as Aguocha maintained that he had made numerous attempts to meet with the Speaker without success, stating, “Mr. Speaker, this is a life-and-death situation. Please, assist me. Please do not silence me.
Abbas consistently warned the lawmaker. He asserted that the rules of the House were being improperly applied, while Aguocha maintained that the urgency of Kanu’s health situation required immediate attention from Parliament.
However, tranquility was restored following the intervention of the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
While recognizing the gravity of the issue, Kalu emphasized the necessity of adhering to due process, assuring that the matter would be appropriately presented on the House floor.
In response, Abbas stated that he did not oppose the essence of the issue, but rather the procedural aspects.
This confrontation occurred as the Representatives convened yesterday, following a two-month recess, during which three newly elected members were sworn in after their victories in the recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, administered the oath of office to Igbinedion Omosede Gabriella, who will represent the Ovia South-West Federal Constituency of Edo State; Rabiu Mukhtar, representing the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State; and Felix Joseph Bagudu, who won the by-election for the Chikun–Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State.
