Drama In Green Chamber: Aguocha, Speaker Abbas Trade Blows Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Failing Health

A stormy session unfolded in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as a heated face-off erupted between the lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Obi Aguocha, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas over the deteriorating health of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Rising on a point of privilege during plenary, Aguocha blasted the silence of the Speaker, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and President Bola Tinubu over a letter he submitted on August 26, warning of Kanu’s worsening medical condition.

“The Nigerian Medical Association has carried out a second evaluation, and the findings are damning. Nnamdi Kanu is suffering organ deficiencies, dangerously low potassium levels, and is literally at the brink of death. This is not politics—it is about fundamental human rights. He has not been convicted of any crime in Nigeria and deserves protection under the constitution,” Aguocha declared.

But Speaker Abbas immediately pushed back, faulting Aguocha’s approach and insisting that a point of privilege was not the proper channel to press for executive action.
“If it concerns the office of the Speaker, Honourable, I find it strange that you raise it this way. You have direct access to my office, and the floor of the House is not for such follow-ups,” Abbas countered.

Aguocha, however, refused to back down, insisting he had already visited the Speaker’s office and stressing that the matter was one of “life and death.” He demanded urgent intervention.

The Speaker stood firm, stressing he was under no obligation to publicly disclose whatever actions had been taken, and eventually ruled Aguocha out of order—bringing the fiery exchange to an abrupt end.

Still unrelenting, Aguocha argued that House rules allowed him to raise matters of privilege and insisted that Kanu’s condition be treated as an urgent national issue.

Kanu, who has been in DSS custody since June 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya, is facing terrorism-related charges. His lawyers have repeatedly warned that his health is deteriorating, while South-East stakeholders continue to press for his release. Court applications seeking his transfer to a medical facility have so far been denied.