Two supporters of Kogi State politician M.I. Onimisi, Shuaibu Abdulmumuni and Abdulrahman Momoh Senzo, have been in detention for 55 days, and medical reports have revealed alarming health conditions. Abdulmumuni, 55, a known hypertensive patient, was diagnosed with chronic hypertension with congestive cardiac failure. His condition worsened while in custody, prompting a referral to General Hospital for further management. Medical reports obtained by SaharaReporters have raised concerns over the health conditions of the two detainees.
According to medical reports, Abdulmumuni presented at General Hospital, Koton Karfe, on August 6, with complaints of severe headache, cough, and breathlessness. The report stated that he was a known hypertensive patient who had been taking medication but was not adherent to his treatment. The hospital made a working diagnosis of chronic hypertension with congestive cardiac failure and scheduled him for weekly follow-up. The medical unit of the Nigerian Correctional Service also observed that the inmates were suffering from serious health conditions.
The Nigerian Correctional Service document, dated September 9, 2026, confirmed that Abdulmumuni and Abdulrahman had been in the facility's custody since July 30. The document stated that their conditions had worsened, prompting their referral to General Hospital for further management. The report described their conditions as "chronic hypertension with congestive cardiac failure and Pulmonary Tuberculosis and congestive heart failure respectively." The correctional service document did not provide further details on the circumstances of their detention.
The detention of Abdulmumuni and Abdulrahman is connected to an alleged shooting incident involving a councillor. Onimisi alleged that the dispute began on July 24 when the councillor disrupted a political meeting organised by one of his supporters. Onimisi claimed that the councillor later accused two of his supporters of coming to shoot at him and his wife. The two men were subsequently taken from the Adavi Police Division to the police command headquarters in Lokoja on July 27.
Onimisi alleged that Abdulmumuni and Abdulrahman were later remanded in prison and were pressured to confess to shooting at the councillor and to implicate him as the person who bought the gun. However, the two men rejected the alleged demand and maintained that they knew nothing about the shooting. Onimisi claimed that the development was connected to the dispute over the APC primary election for the Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency.
The Alliance of Civil Society for Good Governance (ACSGGG) has called for an investigation into the continued detention of Abdulmumuni and Abdulrahman. The group alleged that the two men had been detained for about 57 days in connection with the dispute surrounding the APC House of Representatives primary. The group urged the police to either charge them before a competent court or release them if there was no sufficient evidence.
Civil society groups have drawn criticism from the allegations, calling for an investigation into the conduct of police officers involved in the matter. Onimisi previously served as Special Adviser on Political Strategy and Grassroots Sensitisation to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. He resigned from the position in March 2026 to comply with electoral guidelines before contesting the APC primary for the Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency.
Key points
- Two Kogi State politician M.I. Onimisi's supporters have been detained for 55 days
- Medical reports reveal that they are suffering from heart failure and tuberculosis
- The detention is connected to a dispute over the APC primary election for the Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency
