Henry Okah: Attorneys request urgent Kidney treatment for MEND leader

REQUEST FOR URGENT TREATMENT OF HENRY EMOMOTIMI OKAH: As you are no doubt aware our client is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court holden at Jos, Plateau State for treason, terrorism, kidnapping, illegal importation of arms and ammunition, illegal trafficking in arms and ammunition, illegal possession and storage of prohibited goods, management of unlawful society, incitement of soldiers to commit traitorous acts etc,

Following the order of the trial court that our client be given urgent medical treatment he was diagnosed by a Specialist Urological Surgeon at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. When he was examined by the Specialist on October 11, 2008 his renal function showed evidence of serious impairment caused by “a left extrarenal pelvis with a full pelvis probably from a left pelviureteric junction obstruction”. It was therefore recommended that our client be subjected to “a diuresis renography, preferably using technetium labeled mercaphtoacetyltriglycine (TC-MAG2)”.

However, our investigation has revealed that there are no facilities in country for carrying out the recommended tests. Instead of making arrangements to have our client treated abroad the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has insisted that he be treated in a clinic in Abuja which has no facilities for the treatment of kidney problems.

While we appreciate the desire of the Federal Government to have our client prosecuted Your Excellency will agree with us that the objective can only be achieved if he is certified medically fit to stand trial.

In the light of the foregoing, we urge Your Excellency to direct the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that our client is taken to a foreign hospital which has the facilities to carry out “a diuresis renography” without any further delay.

Yours sincerely,

FEMI FALANA