Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has ordered the Medical Director, Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos, to submit a medical report on Linus Okpara, who is being tried alongside an alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans.

Justice Adedayo Akintoye made the order on Thursday following an application to that effect by Okpara’s lawyer, C. J. Jiakponna.

Jiakponna had told the judge that his client, who was remanded in the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, had a failed surgery in the prison hospital.

He urged the judge to order the prison to produce a medical report on Okpara to determine if he would need to be referred to a hospital outside the prison for the proper management of his condition.

“The applicant had a failed operation which might require treatment at an outside hospital. If, at the end of the day, the medical report says he can be managed in the prison, we will not be able to move his (bail) application.

“We urge Your Lordship to grant this application. The law places a high premium on a human’s life,” Jiakponna said.

Responding, the prosecuting counsel for the state, Y. G. Oshoala, said he would not oppose the application in the interest of justice.

Ruling, Justice Akintoye said, “In the absence of any objection to the motion filed on behalf of the third defendant, Okpara Linus, the medical director is hereby ordered to issue a medical report to the court within the next seven days.”

She adjourned till June 27 for further proceedings.

Okpara and Evans are being tried alongside Joseph Emeka and Victor Aduba.

The charges against them border on “conspiracy and unlawful capture.”

The state alleged in the charges that they conspired with some persons still at large to “unlawfully capture one Uche Okorafor, on the 21st of November 2014, at FESTAC Town, Lagos, and demanded a random of $2m.”

The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions said they acted contrary to sections 409 and 269 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011, adding that they were liable to punishment under the same law.

But they pleaded not guilty.

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