ABUJA, Nigeria – Ujah Obiajulu, an anti-Tinubu protester, has been formally charged with inciting disturbance by the Zuba Magistrate Court in Abuja.
Senior Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad presided over the case, which has garnered attention due to its political implications.
The charge stems from an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where Obiajulu was arrested for allegedly making inflammatory remarks against the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The court session on Thursday concluded with Magistrate Ismail Muhammad affirming that the prosecution has successfully presented a prima facie case against Obiajulu.
“Consequently, the prosecution has aptly established a prima facie case against the defendant, and the defendant has been succinctly fingered as directly involved,” stated Magistrate Muhammad during the proceedings.
The specifics of the charge are rooted in Obiajulu’s statements, which the court deemed sufficiently provocative to potentially disturb public peace.
According to the charge sheet, Obiajulu is accused of stating that over his dead body would President-Elect Tinubu be sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This charge has been officially framed as follows: “That you, Mr. Ujah Obiajulu, Male, of No.23 Road G Close, House 9, Festac Town Lagos State, on the 31st day of March 2023 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make some inflammatory statements against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with intent to cause or likely to cause a breach of peace to with you propagate that over your dead body, would the president-elect, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu be sworn in as president of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The offence, as outlined, contravenes section 114 of the Penal Code Act and is punishable under the same section.
This case highlights the ongoing tensions and the delicate balance between freedom of speech and maintaining public order in Nigeria’s politically charged atmosphere.
