A Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday ordered that a man, Obiajulu Ujah who was evacuated off an Abuja-to-Lagos flight for allegedly protesting the inauguration of “president-elect”, Bola Tinubu, should be remanded for one-month medical observation at the Kuje prison.
The court said this is to enable medical experts determine the state of his mental status.
The ruling was made by the Magistrate Abdulazeel Ismail Muhammed of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Magistrate Court, PRNigeria reports.
The trial judge said, "Having carefully considered, examined and scrutinized the Medical Report before me, dated 17th day of April, 2023 and signed by Dr. Olusegun Shoyombo, Consultant Psychiatrists. I am of the considered opinion that the defendant in the instant case, cannot defend himself.
"In the light of this, and having found that the defendant requires urgent medical attention. In the interest of justice, I hereby invoke the Provision of Section 278(3) & (4) ACJA, 2015 which provides thus; 'Where the Court is not satisfied that the defendant is capable of making his defence, the Court shall adjourn the trial or proceedings and shall remand the person for a period not exceeding 1 month to be detained for observation in some suitable place.
"A defendant detained in accordance with subsection (3) of this section shall be kept under observation by a medical officer during the period of his remand and before the expiration of that period, the medical officer shall:
"Give to the court his opinion in writing as to the state of mind of that person; and
"Where he is unable within the period to form any definite opinion, he shall so certify to the court and ask for a further remand and such further remand may extend to a period of 3 months.
"It is my considered opinion in the instant case, that remanding the defendant for observation in a suitable place with requisite multidisciplinary medical care and medical personnel, will promote and guarantee the interest of justice and fundamental right of the defendant guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2018.
"From all these, and the need to prevent the risk of jumping medical treatment and having found that, Kuje Correctional Facility has the required and requisite medical personnel. I hereby order that, the defendant be remanded for medical observation for 1 month, at Kuje correctional facility.”
The Magistrate added that the defendant should receive the necessary medical treatment at the expense of the Nigerian Government of Nigeria, adding that the medical officer provide the court with his written opinion on the defendant's mental state during his remand and before the end of that period.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the police in Abuja had charged the man, who claimed to be a Labour Party supporter, otherwise known as Obedient, to court for criminal incitement.
Although the man pretended to be an LP supporter, some speculated that he was working for the ruling All Progressives Congress and had been planted to create the "drama" on the flight.
Onboard the flight, the lone protester had 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 the man out after he had been held up for more than an hour, as the 6pm flight had yet to depart as of 7pm.
The man could be heard shouting while he was being carried off the aisle 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.”