TQM report,
Today Tuesday 22nd December, 2020, Dr. Chike Okogwu was arraigned before a Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Gwagwalada, F.C.T on charges of public incitement, mischief. Upon taking his plea, the judge granted him a bail of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) and a surety which must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. Dr. Chike’s bail has been perfected and released. The matter is adjourned to 21st January, 2021 for continuation of trial.
It will be recalled that in January of 2019, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 became an Act of the National Assembly following the assent of Mr. President. The law proscribes any form of discrimination whatsoever against persons facing social and institutional barriers in Nigeria. Two years on however, Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) has witnessed flagrant disregard of the sacred provisions of the legislation. ALDIN has received several complaints from within the association and the general community of persons with disabilities continuous abuse of their rights despite the law. Dana Air in particular has been the frequent culprit.
Within the space of two weeks, the social media has been replete with agonizing stories of passengers with disabilities; they have told their stories of abuse of their rights with airline operators. There must be a stop to it.
Meanwhile, the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (an umbrella body of lawyers with disabilities in Nigeria) who is appearing for Dr. Chike Okogwu shall be meeting before the adjourned date to discuss the next line of action for and on behalf of the Defendant.
Watch the Video of Chike and his lawyer immediately after he was granted bail
