Special Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, has reportedly fallen ill at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, barely 24 hours after a magistrate declined to endorse his bail bond for release.
According to sources within the facility, Ejimakor, who was among 13 persons arrested on Monday during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, took ill suddenly on Friday morning and was unable to meet with his legal associate, Barrister Maxwell Opara, during a scheduled visitation.
Reports indicate that the lawyer was too weak to sit or stand upright, prompting immediate medical attention from the prison’s healthcare staff. Correctional nurses were said to have administered initial treatment while medical officers deliberated on transferring him to an external hospital for further care.
“His condition deteriorated quickly. He could neither stand nor hold a conversation for long,” a prison source told SaharaReporters. “Medical staff have been monitoring him closely and may move him out for specialized treatment if his health doesn’t improve.”
Ejimakor’s health crisis comes just days after he was arrested alongside Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the IPOB leader, and 11 others during a peaceful demonstration in Abuja calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release from detention.
Eyewitnesses allege that the protesters were tear-gassed and beaten by security operatives before being whisked away to a notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit known as “Abattoir”, where they were detained overnight under harsh conditions.
The following day, the group was reportedly moved to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters and subsequently brought before the Kuje Magistrate’s Court. Sources say the arraignment took place in the absence of their lawyer, and the magistrate ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further hearing.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id granted the defendants bail but declined to sign the bail bond, effectively stalling their release. Legal experts familiar with the case described the situation as “a judicial irregularity”, stressing that once bail is granted, the court is obligated to process the bond without delay.
“This is highly unusual and raises serious concerns about due process,” a legal analyst commented. “You cannot grant bail and then refuse to sign the bond — it defeats the entire purpose of the order.”
Family members and colleagues of Ejimakor expressed deep worry over his health and the apparent reluctance of prison authorities to expedite his medical treatment or release. His colleagues said they had formally notified both the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and judicial authorities about his deteriorating condition.
Prison staff who spoke under condition of anonymity confirmed that Ejimakor had been struggling with severe fatigue and dehydration since his arrest earlier in the week. They said his condition worsened after several days of detention without adequate medical supervision or rest.
“He is not in a good shape at all,” one staff member revealed. “The nurses are doing their best, but this is beyond what we can handle here. He needs to be in a proper hospital.”
According to medical personnel in the facility, preliminary assessments suggest that the lawyer may be suffering from a combination of stress-related illness and possible infection, compounded by the conditions of his detention.
Human rights advocates have since called for urgent medical evacuation and compliance with the court’s bail order to prevent what they described as “avoidable tragedy.”
Ejimakor’s colleagues within Nnamdi Kanu’s Global Defence Consortium condemned what they called the “targeted harassment” of lawyers defending politically sensitive cases.
“It is ironic and deeply troubling that a lawyer defending human rights is now being denied those same rights,” one of the defence lawyers said. “Barrister Ejimakor’s situation underscores the growing culture of impunity within the justice system.”
The team accused the authorities of violating both Sections 34 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee the right to dignity and fair hearing, as well as the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which protect legal practitioners from intimidation, harassment, or arbitrary detention.
They further argued that the continued detention of Ejimakor and the others despite the grant of bail constitutes “a clear contempt of court”, calling on the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to intervene immediately.
News of Ejimakor’s illness and the circumstances surrounding his detention have sparked outrage among human rights organisations, civil society groups, and the IPOB community. Many have taken to social media to demand his immediate release and proper medical treatment.
In a joint statement, the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ) and the Centre for Human Rights Advocacy (CHRA) described the incident as “a gross violation of human rights and judicial integrity.”
“We demand the unconditional release of Barrister Aloy Ejimakor and all those arrested during the peaceful #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest. The Nigerian judiciary must not be complicit in acts that erode public confidence in justice,” the statement read.
Observers say the episode has once again highlighted long-standing concerns over the administration of justice in politically charged cases in Nigeria. The delay in processing bail, they argue, is part of a wider pattern of procedural abuse that undermines public faith in judicial independence.
A senior legal practitioner in Abuja told reporters that such actions not only violate constitutional safeguards but also jeopardize Nigeria’s democratic image before the international community.
“This is more than just about one lawyer. It speaks to how the system treats dissent, and how due process is often weaponized against those who challenge the state,” he said.
As of press time, Ejimakor remained in the Kuje Correctional Centre infirmary, where medical personnel continued to monitor his situation. His defence team and family members have renewed appeals for urgent intervention by the Minister of Interior, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“This is a humanitarian issue now,” said Barrister Maxwell Opara. “We are appealing for compassion and adherence to the rule of law. A man’s life is at stake simply because he chose to defend the rights of another.”
Meanwhile, several prominent lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), have begun mobilising to file an emergency application before a higher court to compel Ejimakor’s release on health grounds.
As concerns mount over his wellbeing, many Nigerians are watching closely to see whether justice — and compassion — will prevail in a case that has become emblematic of the country’s struggle between power and principle.
