The Zuba Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has ruled that Mr. Obiajulu Uja, a supporter of the OBIdient movement, should remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional facility.
It was learned that Uja was apprehended during an April flight from Lagos to Abuja after engaging in a lone protest, demanding that President Bola Tinubu (then President-Elect) should not be inaugurated as President on May 29.
According to a medical report presented to the court during previous hearings, Uja is believed to be mentally unstable.
During today’s hearing, Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad, the presiding judge, directed that Uja be returned to the medical facility at the Kuje Correctional facility for urgent medical treatment for a duration of two months.
After considering the arguments presented by the prosecution and defense counsels regarding the bail application and examining the medical report, which indicated the defendant’s mental disorder, the magistrate concluded that Uja is mentally unfit to stand trial.
Magistrate Abdulazeez stated that a person must be of sound mind to undergo trial, and it would be unsafe for the court to rule on the bail application at this stage.
The magistrate explained, “Since the medical observation report does not provide conclusive evidence on the defendant’s specific mental condition, and in the interest of justice, it is appropriate for the court to ensure that the defendant receives further medical care at the expense of the federal government.”
“Therefore, I hereby refer the defendant back to the medical facility at the Kuje Correctional Center for urgent medical treatment for a period of two months, at the expense of the federal government of Nigeria, in accordance with Section 278(4).”
“The corrections (medical) department is permitted to seek the expertise of professionals from other medical facilities within the FCT. However, if the defendant’s mental condition improves during this period and before its expiration, the medical officer must promptly file a report to allow the court to proceed with the trial, including delivering its ruling on the defendant’s bail application,” Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad stated.
