Anti-Tinubu passenger remanded in prison pending mental health report

A passenger who caused a commotion by expressing anti-Tinubu sentiments on a Lagos-bound Ibom Air flight has been remanded in the Kuje prison by a Magistrate Court in Abuja.

The anti-Tinubu passenger, Obiajulu Ujah, will remain there for one month while medical experts assess his mental health. Ujah is currently facing a criminal charge in case number CR/08/23, filed by the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Magistrate Abdulazeel Ismail Muhammed of the FCT Magistrate Court ruled on Thursday in Zuba Magisterial District.

“Having scrutinized the medical report dated 17th day of April 2023 and signed by Dr Olusegun Shoyombo, a consultant psychiatrist, I am of the opinion that the defendant cannot defend himself,” he said.

Muhammed utilized Section 278(3) & (4) of the ACJA, 2015 due to the urgent need for medical attention.

The section states that if the court is unconvinced of the defendant’s ability to defend themselves, the trial will be postponed, and the individual may be remanded for a maximum of one month.

During this remand, a medical officer will oversee the defendant and provide a written assessment of their mental state before the end of the period.

If the medical officer is unable to form a definite opinion, they will inform the court and request a further remand of up to three months.

“From all these, the need to prevent the risk of jumping treatment and having found that Kuje Correctional Facility has the requisite medical personnel, I hereby order that the defendant be remanded for medical observation for one month,” Muhammed said.

According to the magistrate, the Federal Government of Nigeria will bear the cost of the necessary medical treatment for the defendant, as provided by the medical personnel.