Court Orders Medical Experts To Examine Man who causes Stir At Abuja Airport, Reminds Him In Kuje Prison

Magistrate Abdulazeel Ismail Muhammed of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Magistrate Court, on Thursday ordered that Obiajulu Ujah, who claimed to be member of the 'Obidient' group that caused panic at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, to be remanded for one month medical observation at the Kuje prison to enable medical experts determine the state of his mental status.

The Magistrate gave the order in Zuba Magisterial District where Ujah is facing criminal charges.

Recall that Mr Obiajulu Ujah, had showed “inappropriate behavior,” on an Abuja-Lagos bound Ibom Air flight when he threatened that Tinubu should not be sworn in on May 29. His flight was later botched and handed over to the security agencies before his arraignment in court.

According to the order of the court, Ujah who was put on trial for a criminal charge marked CR/08/23 by the Commissioner of Police would be carefully observed by medical personnel and in writing, reports to the court, of the state of the mind of the defendant.

The Magistrate Muhammed, while ruling on the mental state of the defendant, 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 stressed that the medical personnel shall accord the defendant the requisite medical treatment, at the expense of Federal Government of Nigeria.

He also ordered that the medical officer shall provide to the court his opinion in writing as to the state of mind of the defendant, during the period of his remand and before the expiration of that period.

Credit: PRNigeria