A Magistrate Court in Zuba, Federal Capital Territory, has expressed disapproval of the frequent adjournments and delays in the trial of Barrister Obiajulu Hansel Uja, an anti-Tinubu air passenger facing criminal charges.
Uja, identified as an ‘Obedient supporter,’ was apprehended in April of the previous year for causing a disturbance during an Abuja-Lagos Ibom Air flight. His lone protest involved demanding that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then a President-elect, should not be inaugurated as Nigeria’s President on May 29.
The lawyer, facing charges of public nuisance, resistance to lawful arrest, threatening violence, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Despite being denied bail for various reasons, the trial has faced delays.
During a scheduled session for the definite cross-examination of a prosecution witness, Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad discovered the absence of both the Federal Government’s lawyer, Umo Inna, and the defence lawyer, P. U Ogbadu, without any explanation provided for their absence. In response to this, Magistrate Muhammad emphasized the necessity for the court to recognize challenges and make difficult decisions to remain relevant as an institution.
“Frivolous adjournment in criminal matters must be prohibited. In the instance of this case, I will lean on the side of substantial justice to grant an adjournment at the instance of the prosecution.
“Against this background, this matter is adjourned to the 4th day of March 2024 for definite cross-examination”.
Uja’s trial for a criminal offence has suffered a series of adjournments.
At one point, the Kuje prison authority, after a medical checkup of the defendant based on the court order, found that he was mentally unstable.
A Consultant Psychiatrist at the National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Olusegun Shoyombo, had also in his medical report confirmed the mental insanity of the defendant.
However, a judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Edward Okpe, put the mental issue of the defendant to rest when he admitted him to bail and held that Uja was fit for trial.
Consequent to the High Court decision, the matter started with the prosecution calling its witness before Magistrate Mohammed Abdulazeez.
The prosecution has since finished leading their witness and is now time for defendants to cross-examine the prosecution witness.
Meanwhile, the cross-examination has been shifted to March 4 by Magistrate Muhammad with a warning not to tolerate any further unnecessary delay in the trial.