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Tag: Metuh

  • N400m Fraud: Court stops Metuh’s application seeking Dasuki as witness

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday rejected an application by former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, seeking ex-National Security Adviser,NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki(Rtd) to testify in his ongoing trial.

    Justice Okon Abang in his ruling held that Metuh’s application lacks merit and since the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) does not make it mandatory for the court to grant such application, as such “it is accordingly dismissed.”

    The judge held that there is no evidence before the court to show that Metuh applied to the authority (the Department of State Services) keeping Dasuki and was rejected. “The first defendant cannot come to the court first when he has not approached the DSS.”

    “The application was not made in good faith because the name of Dasuki was not included in the list of witnesses earlier filed by the defense, the application is an afterthought.”

    “It will not serve any useful meaning to subpoena Dasuki because the 1st defendant (Metuh) has exhausted his five adjournments provided for him by the ACJA since April… he will need an adjournment to be able to call a witness as of right”, the judge ruled.

    The court had also earlier dismissed a second application by Metuh seeking for the leave of the court to release his international passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom for medical purposes.

    Counsel to Metuh, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) in a submission after the rulings said “the court has not only shown bias but clear bias against the interest of the first defendant.”

    “We are not confidence that the court will give us justice in this matter.”, he said

    The former PDP spokesperson is currently facing trial before the Justice Abang-led court for allegedly receiving the sum of N400 million from Dasuki.

  • Metuh asks court to summon Dasuki as witness in N400m fraud case

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to summon former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to testify in his trial.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Counsel to Metuh, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), reminded the judge, Justice Okon Abang, of a pending subpoena before the court to invite Dasuki as the next witness.

    Abang, however, advised that both the defence and prosecuting counsel liaise with the authority holding Dasuki to release him to appear in court.

    He said that it was only after the defence and prosecution had approached the relevant authority and the authority refused to release Dasuki to them that they should come back to him.

    Counsel to the second defendant Tochukwukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) however said it was the duty of the court to issue a subpoena to anyone to appear in court.

    The defence team filed the subpoena on Dec. 2, 2016.

    It was premised on the grounds that since the allegation against Metuh revolved around Dasuki, it was important for Dasuki to be a witness in the matter.

    Meanwhile, following the stalling of the case on Tuesday due to the ill-health of Metuh, the defence, at today’s sitting presented a medical report from the National Hospital with details of his health condition.

    The defence team told the court that Metuh was unable to appear in court because he was admitted at the National Hospital for complications arising from spinal cord injuries.

    Etiaba said that the medical experts handling the defendant’s ailment were unable to give the specific date for his full recovery due to the nature of the ailment.

    He asked the court for a three-week adjournment for the defendant to recuperate and also seek further medical attention.

    Onwugbufor, for his part, told the court that he had seen the medical report and that he was suffering the same ailment as the defendant.

    He said he was able to get the right medical care only in London, and urged the court to look at the defendant’s case with compassion since his condition was even more critical than his.

    According to him, what Metuh is suffering is excruciating and requires expert attention to ensure full recovery.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, said that he was not opposed to an adjournment, adding that the prosecution sympathised with the defence and wished the defendant quick recovery.

    “We have been served with the medical report of the defendant and we have little or nothing to say since the record speaks for itself. All we can say is that we extend our sympathy to the defence.

    “With regards to the request for a three-week adjournment, we are taking them by their word since the medical report did not give an indication about how soon the defendant will be discharged.

    “It only says his management will continue until he gets well and I am not opposed to the adjournment,’’ Tahir said.

    Abang adjourned continuation of hearing in the matter till Feb. 21 and Feb. 24.