Court orders ‘Obidient’ passenger to go for 2 months ‘mental treatment’ in prison

Court orders ‘Obidient’ passenger to go for 2 months ‘mental treatment’ in prison

The Zuba Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory has ordered the Kuje correctional facility to continue holding Mr. Obiajulu Uja, in their custody.

In April, Uja, onboard a Lagos-Abuja flight, declared that Tinubu should never be sworn in as President on May 29, 2023.

It was reported that it took the efforts of no fewer than six airport security officers to carry Uja out.

In a viral video, Uja is heard shouting while being carried off the aircraft, saying, “Obidients you’re here. They are doing this to me. Obidients you’re here, I am naked. Obidients you’re here, I am going naked.”

The ‘Obidient’ supporter is said to be mentally unstable, according to a medical report tendered to the court at previous hearings, on the case.

But according to PRNigeria, Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad, the trial judge, at the hearing on the matter on Tuesday, referred him back to the medical facility at Kuje correctional centre for further treatment for a period of two months.

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After listening to submissions of the prosecutor and defence counsel on bail application as well as the examination of the medical report which presupposed that the defendant is suffering from a mental disorder, the magistrate noted that the defendant is of unsound mind and consequently is not fit for trial.

According to Magistrate Abdulazeez, since only a sane person could stand trial, it would be unsafe for the court to deliver its ruling on the bail application at that stage.

The magistrate said since the medical observation report “is not too conclusive on the peculiar mental challenge of the defendant”, the appropriate thing for the court to do is to further subject the defendant to further medical care at the expense of the federal government.

The magistrate said, “Thus, I hereby refer the defendant back to the medical facility at Kuje Correctional Centre for further urgent medical treatment for a period of two months at the expense of federal government of Nigeria pursuant to the provision of Section 278(4).

“The control of the corrections (medicals) is at liberty to engage experts from other medical facilities within the FCT. However, if the mental soundness of the defendant appropriates during this period and before the expiration of the period, the medical officer shall file a report forthwith to enable the court to proceed with trial including delivering its ruling on the defendant’s bail application.”

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