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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Metuh’s Trial To Continue Despite Lawyers’ Absence – Judge (692 Views)
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Metuh’s Trial To Continue Despite Lawyers’ Absence – Judge by MzMercie: 11:31am On Mar 17, 2016 |
Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in
Abuja has directed that the National Publicity
Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party,
Chief Olisa Metuh, will open its defence by
12pm on Thursday in his ongoing trial for
corruption the despite absence of the defence
lawyers.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
is prosecuting Metuh and his firm, Destra
Investments Limited, on seven counts of fraud
relating to the N400m he received from the
Office of the National Security Adviser in
November 2012 and $2m money laundering cash
transaction.
Metuh was in court on Thursday but none of his
lawyers was.
When the case was called at exactly 9am
earlier today, the judge was handed a letter
from Metuh’s lead counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu
(SAN), asking for an adjournment on health
grounds.
The judge said the letter indicated that Ikpeazu
had travelled to University of Ilorin for treatment
without stating the particular hospital he was
visiting.
Justice Abang also acknowledged receiving
another letter from the lead prosecuting
counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, that was given to
passed to him during the brief court session.
Tahir in his letter asked for a stand down till
12pm to enable him to appear for an appeal at
the Supreme Court.
In a bench ruling on Thursday, Justice Abang
said there was no evidence that the defence
lawyer’s letter, asking for an adjournment was
served on the prosecution.
He ruled, “Therefore my lords, I am inclined to
stand down the matter till 12pm for the
defendant to open their defence.
“I will only take decision on the request for
adjournment by 12pm.”
Justice Abang had in a ruling on March 9
dismissed Metuh’s no-case submission,
directing him to open his defence in the trial.
PDP spokesperson had in his no-case
submission asked the court to discharge and
acquit him and his company on the grounds that
the prosecution had failed to lead evidence
linking him to the alleged crimes.
But the judge held in his ruling that the accused
had case to answer to enable him to offer
explanations about the allegations levelled
against him.
He explained in the opening of his ruling that
the court was not expected at the stage to
make findings on the guilt or otherwise of the
accused.
He added that the court could also not make
pronouncement on the credibility of the
prosecution witnesses that had testified.
After the prosecution closed its case with eight
witnesses, the defendants through their lawyers,
filed a no-case submission, asking the court to
discharge and acquit them on the grounds that
the prosecution failed to make any prima facie
case against them.
But the judge ruled against the defendants on
Wednesday, holding that the prosecution’s case
had raised so many questions, which the
defendants needed “to urgently answer”.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the defendants
have explanations to make regarding counts 1,
2, 3, 4 and 7,” the judge ruled.
He held that the evidence given by the
prosecution’s third and seventh witnesses as
well as Exhibits D1 and E6(1) to (4) linked
Metuh and his company to the alleged crime.
He added, “It is only the first defendant (Metuh)
that can answer the questions. The first
defendant admitted in his statement that the
the second defendant (Destra) received N400m
on November 24, 2014.
“Did the first defendant inquire from the bank
the source of this money? If he did, what did he
do?
“If he did not ask from the bank why did he not
report to the police or even the EFCC to
investigate it. If he did not why did he disburse
the fund to the 5th and 7th prosecution
witnesses? Did he also disburse part of the
money to Chief Anenih as contained in count
seven.
“If he answer this questions it will be clear if
the defendants knew or reasonably ought to
have know that the fund represented proceeds
of corrupt and criminal breach of trust by Col.
Sambo Dasuki, while being the National Security
Adviser. Source: www.punchng.com/metuhs-trial-to-continue-despite-lawyers-absence/ 1 Like |
Re: Metuh’s Trial To Continue Despite Lawyers’ Absence – Judge by truthalways(m): 11:33am On Mar 17, 2016 |
we are watching |
Re: Metuh’s Trial To Continue Despite Lawyers’ Absence – Judge by Adagba01: 11:49am On Mar 17, 2016 |
Good way to go! I am beginning to see the first convict of the Dasukigates cum armsgates. 1 Like |
Re: Metuh’s Trial To Continue Despite Lawyers’ Absence – Judge by BiafraBushBoy(m): 11:51am On Mar 17, 2016 |
Mr Methu, your place will be in Cell 3... Kuje prison!! Nothing will save you! 1 Like |
Re: Metuh’s Trial To Continue Despite Lawyers’ Absence – Judge by politricks: 5:07pm On Mar 17, 2016 |
Has anyone noticed how quiet him and okupe have been? 1 Like |
Re: Metuh’s Trial To Continue Despite Lawyers’ Absence – Judge by seunmsg(m): 5:26pm On Mar 17, 2016 |
Before Metuh was finally charged to court, he was running his mouth like tap everywhere telling whoever has evidence against him to go to court. Now that he's in court, to open his defence is a problem. The prosecuting team have closed their case for over two weeks and Metuh and his team cannot open their defence. If he's not making frivolous application, his Lawyer will be in an unnamed hospital in Ilorin treating an unnamed ailment. Last last, he will run out of excuse and be forced to defend himself. There is no hiding place for the corrupt and justice most definitely be done in this case. The era of getting away will corruption is over, this is the era of change and the time for justice is now. 1 Like |
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