Outrage, Pressure Force Release of Ex-UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Martin Aghaji After DSS Detention Sparks National Concern

Renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Emeritus Professor Martin A.C. Aghaji, has regained his freedom following days in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), in a case that triggered widespread concern across Nigeria’s medical and civil society communities.

Professor Aghaji was released on Sunday after what sources described as sustained pressure from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), senior medical professionals, and civil society groups who demanded clarity on the circumstances of his arrest or his immediate release.

The respected surgeon had reportedly been held incommunicado, with no official disclosure of the allegations against him at the time of his detention. This silence fuelled growing anxiety within Nigeria’s medical community and raised questions about adherence to due process.

Despite his release, authorities had not issued any public statement explaining the reasons for his arrest or the conditions that led to his detention, leaving many aspects of the case unresolved.

The development sparked swift backlash from the medical profession, prompting the Enugu State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association to convene an emergency meeting of its State Officers’ Council. In a communiqué, the association condemned the manner of his arrest, stressing that while security agencies have lawful duties, citizens must be treated with dignity and in line with constitutional safeguards.

The NMA said it immediately engaged several authorities, including the Office of the Security Adviser to the Enugu State Governor, the Nigeria Police Force, and DSS officials, but received no official explanation regarding the detention.

Describing Professor Aghaji as “an internationally acclaimed cardiothoracic surgeon, distinguished academic, and medical icon,” the association demanded his immediate release or, at minimum, full respect for his constitutional rights, including access to legal counsel, family members, and medical care.

The pressure led to the convocation of an Emergency General Meeting by the association to determine further steps, while also escalating the matter to the national leadership of the NMA for broader intervention.

Professor Aghaji’s release reportedly came less than 24 hours after the medical body’s formal communiqué, amid mounting public scrutiny and growing advocacy from stakeholders across the country.

Although the precise circumstances surrounding his release remain unclear, multiple sources suggest that coordinated pressure from professional bodies and concerned stakeholders played a decisive role.

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost cardiothoracic surgeons, Professor Aghaji has built a distinguished career spanning decades in medical education, surgical innovation, and institutional leadership, including his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of UNN.

His detention and subsequent release have reignited national debate over civil liberties, due process, and the balance between security operations and citizens’ constitutional rights in Nigeria.