Anti-Tinubu protester removed from plane mentally unstable —Lawyer

The lawyer of the anti-Tinubu passenger aboard an Abuja-Lagos flight has claimed that his client, Obiajulu Uja, from Oji-River Local Government Area, Enugu State, was mentally unhealthy.

This was as the police confirmed the man will be charged to court on Monday for inciting public disturbance.

The lawyer, Ejike Ugwu, who queried the decision to prosecute Uja in a chat with journalists on Saturday, stressed his client was mentally challenged.

Ugwu described his client as an erstwhile banker, adding that the security agencies should not prosecute him.

“The DPO said the man will be charged on Monday; this is a man that we said is mentally ill. Have you conducted any medical examination on him to know whether he is mentally fit to be charged to court? On what grounds are you charging?

READ ALSO:‘Hold Tinubu responsible for economic woes, anti-people policies’ —PDP PCC

“The man worked with Zenith Bank until he developed some health issues. Some days ago, Riz Continental Hotel, Abuja, chased him away from the hotel because of his mental instability.

“If you go through his social media, you will understand that he is not even a member of the Obedient movement. But the long and short of it is that the man is mentally unstable. After he was arrested and the DPO saw reports in the media, the DPO confided in me that the man is not a normal person”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Airport Command said the suspect would be charged on Monday with criminal intimidation and public disturbance.

The Investigating Police Officer, Benson Okoh, said, “He’s with us. I was trying to confirm to the PPRO. However, he’ll be charged to court on Monday for criminal intimidation and inciting public disturbance.”

Uja had caused a stir aboard the flight when he protested against the inauguration of president-elect, Bola Tinubu. His action delayed the flight from taking off, as he had to be forcefully removed from the plane.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now