Lawyer claims security operatives detained Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji after independent health report, calls for international intervention.
By Rimawaglonews Repoter
A public policy analyst and legal practitioner, Christopher Chidera, has alleged that Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji was arrested by security operatives following an independent medical assessment he reportedly conducted on detained Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued on Sunday, July 5, 2026, Chidera described the alleged arrest as "an attack on truth, the rule of law, and professional independence," arguing that it further suggested Kanu's continued detention was politically motivated rather than based on legal considerations.
According to the lawyer, Professor Aghaji, a former President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society and former Provost of the College of Medicine at the University of Nigeria, was allegedly arrested on July 3 after issuing an independent medical assessment of Kanu's health.
Chidera alleged that the report contradicted the position of the Department of State Services regarding Kanu's medical condition, claiming that security operatives later stormed the professor's residence at Independence Layout in Enugu and took him into custody.
He argued that the reported development sends a disturbing signal to professionals who offer independent opinions on matters of public interest.
"The arrest of Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji is not the detention of one man. It is a calculated declaration by the Nigerian state that truth itself is now a crime," Chidera said.
The lawyer maintained that no internationally respected medical expert should face intimidation for carrying out professional responsibilities, adding that the alleged incident reinforced concerns about whether Kanu could receive a fair hearing under the current circumstances.
Chidera also called on the United Kingdom government to intervene diplomatically and urged the immediate release of both Kanu and Professor Aghaji.
He further appealed to Amnesty International, diplomatic missions in Nigeria, the Nigerian Medical Association, the Nigerian Bar Association, and civil society organisations to speak out over the reported arrest.
Describing the alleged detention as an assault on professional independence and the rule of law, Chidera warned that professionals across various sectors could face similar treatment if they expressed opinions contrary to those of the government.
He concluded by demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Professor Aghaji and Nnamdi Kanu while calling for an end to what he described as the persecution of professionals associated with Kanu's case.
