A legal source at the Magistrate Court told PRNigeria that the trial could not continue on Thursday as a result of the absence of the litigation parties.
The trial of Obiajulu Uja at the Zuba Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been stalled by the non-appearance of the defendant, prosecutors, and counsels.
A legal source at the Magistrate Court told PRNigeria that the trial could not continue on Thursday as a result of the absence of the litigation parties.
"The matter is adjourned to the 26th day of September 2023 for a report on the health condition of the defendant and hearing notice be served on the correctional facility," he said.
In June, the Zuba Magistrate Court in the FCT ordered the Kuje correctional facility to continue to hold Uja in its custody.
In April, Uja, onboard a Lagos-Abuja flight, declared that Bola 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 of the aircraft.
In a viral video, Uja is heard shouting while being carried off the aircraft, “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 one of the previous hearings on the case.
According to PRNigeria, in June, Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad, the trial judge, referred him back to the medical facility at Kuje Correctional Centre for further treatment for a period of two months.
After listening to submissions of the prosecutor and defence lawyers on bail application as well as the examination of the medical report which presupposed that the defendant was suffering from a mental disorder, the magistrate noted that the defendant was of unsound mind and consequently 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: "Having equally found that the defendant needs urgent further treatment and having released the medical observation report is not too conclusive on the peculiar mental challenge of the defendant and in the interest of justice 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.
"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 the 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."