The legal battle surrounding the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has taken a fresh turn as his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, called on the Court of Appeal to urgently fix a date for the hearing of his client’s pending bail application.

Ejimakor argued that continued delays in considering the application are difficult to justify, particularly as the Federal Government has yet to file a response to Kanu’s appeal brief, despite the expiration of the stipulated period.

Speaking on the matter, the lawyer said the government’s failure to join issues in the appeal should not be allowed to stall proceedings indefinitely, especially in a case involving a citizen’s liberty.

According to him, the Court of Appeal should move swiftly to determine the bail request rather than continue waiting for the prosecution’s response.

“Their brief is overdue. It is unfair to keep waiting for them while Nnamdi Kanu’s bail application remains unattended to before the court,” Ejimakor said.

He maintained that the next logical and fair step would be for the appellate court to hear and decide the application without further delay.

The senior lawyer revealed that the bail application was filed on June 5, 2026, and remains pending before the court.

He argued that every additional day without a hearing amounts to a continued infringement on Kanu’s constitutional rights, particularly his right to personal liberty and the presumption of innocence guaranteed under Nigerian law.

Ejimakor further contended that the Federal Government, which bears the responsibility of justifying Kanu’s continued detention, has not filed a counter-affidavit challenging the facts presented in the application.

In his view, the absence of a formal response weakens any argument against granting the request.

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He also pointed to provisions of the Court of Appeal Act, insisting that a single justice of the appellate court possesses the authority to hear and determine such interlocutory matters.

“Justice delayed in matters of personal liberty is justice denied. The Respondent’s silence cannot be weaponised for indefinite extra-judicial detention,” he stated.

The renewed push for a bail hearing comes amid growing concerns raised by Kanu’s family regarding his health and welfare in custody.

In recent weeks, members of the Okwu-Kanu family accused the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) of allegedly intimidating medical professionals who had provided independent treatment to the IPOB leader.

The family also voiced fears over what it described as threats to Kanu’s wellbeing, alleged medical neglect and attempts to frustrate the work of his independent medical team.

In a statement issued on behalf of the family by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, relatives claimed that Kanu’s health deteriorated significantly while in detention and only began to improve after access was granted to an independent team of medical experts led by Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji.

According to the family, medical interventions by the team reportedly improved several health indicators, including his potassium levels, while reducing symptoms such as nosebleeds, fainting episodes, severe headaches, dizziness and swelling of the feet.

The latest appeal by Ejimakor is expected to intensify attention on the long-running legal proceedings involving Kanu, whose detention and trial have remained among Nigeria’s most closely watched judicial and political cases.

With the Federal Government yet to formally respond to the appeal, attention is now shifting to the Court of Appeal and whether it will grant the request for an expedited hearing of the IPOB leader’s bail application.