ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, refused to summon the detained ex-National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, to explain why he gave N400million to former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, prior to the 2015 presidential election
Trial Justice Okon Abang dismissed as lacking in merit, the request which Metuh filed through his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN.

Metuh is answering to a seven-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his firm, Destra Investment Limited.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants had before the election, received N400million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, without executing any contract.

It said the fund which was released to Metuh and his firm by Dasuki, was part of about $2.1billion earmarked for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency in the North East.

Metuh had in his defence before the court, insisted that the money was given to him to conduct media campaigns for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 general election.

In a bid to substantiate his claim, the defendant pleaded the court to issue a subpoena to compel the Federal Government to allow Dasuki who has been in detention since November 3, 2015, to appear and testify on his behalf.

While dismissing the application, Justice Abang held that Dasuki was not a “compellable” witness.

The Judge said there was no evidence before the court to show that Metuh applied to the Department of State Service, DSS, which has Dasuki in its custody, and such request was turned down.

He said it was not the duty of a court to compel a witness to appear and testify for a defendant.

“The first defendant cannot come to the court first when he had not approached the DSS”.

The Judge held that Metuh’s request was in bad faith, stressing that Dasuki was not included in the list of witnesses the defendant earlier submitted to the court.

He held that Metuh’s application was an afterthought, saying it was a deliberate ploy to delay the trial.

Likewise, Justice Abang declined Metuh’s application for leave to travel to the United Kingdom for surgery.

Metuh had prayed the court for temporary release of his international passport to enable him to seek medical attention abroad.

Justice Abang said he could not grant the request considering that he had earlier dismissed a similar application the defendant made on May 25, 2016.

He said the defendant ought to have appealed against that ruling, adding that granting the instant application would amount to his court sitting on appeal over its own ruling.

Meantime, Metuh who was visibly displeased with the ruling, accused Justice Abang of being biased against him.

Reacting to the ruling, his lawyer, Ikpeazu, SAN, said his client has lost his trust on ability of the Judge to handle the trial objectively.

“We are not confident that the court will give us Justice in this matter”, Ikpeazu added.

Consequently, Metuh’s lawyer asked Justice Abang to disqualify himself from further presiding over the matter, a request that was also dismissed by the court.

The matter was subsequently adjourned till March 20 for Metuh to call more witnesses in his defence of the charge against him.

We are not confident that the court will give us Justice in this matter”, Ikpeazu added

Geniro:
APC zombies never cease to amaze me.You accused a man that he fraudulently collected money from the NSA meant for his personal use and he denied that asking that the principal witness be brought to court to testify, yet you still denied him

Why is the FG scared of Dasuki Confessions?

PassingShot:
I love Okon Abang.

He is bery courageous to deliver justice irrespective of who is involved.

He os one of the few upright judges in Nigeria. It's the main reason Liepods and PDP hate him.

The judge told Mr. Ikpeazu that his statement was contemptuous, but Mr. Ikpeazu insisted that his statement was backed by facts.
Mr. Abang, in a short ruling described the statement made by Mr. Ikpeazu as “contemptuous” of the court.

According to him, in contempt of the court, the judge is the complainant as well as the prosecutor and the judge, adding that he would however, not take action against Mr. Ikpeazu.

He said his action against the contemptuous remarks was not out of fear or cowardice, but because the court was trained to develop thick skin against such statements and not to pick offence when offended.

Consequently, Metuh’s lawyer asked Justice Abang to disqualify himself from further presiding over the matter, a request that was also dismissed by the court.

On his part, prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, held that the insistence of the defendant that he could not proceed with the matter without the presence of Mr. Dasuki was misconceived and had no accommodation in law.

He urged the court to order the defendants to proceed with their defence, pending when they put their house in order to produce an appropriate witness.
Mr. Tahir urged the court to ignore the application to recuse itself from the trial and proceed with the matter.

The judge further dismissed the application for the court to rescue itself for lacking in merit, saying, there was nothing before the court to show that it was biased.

He adjourned the matter till March 20, 21,22,23 and 24 for Mr. Metuh to close his case, and second defendant, Dextra to open its defence.

NgeneUkwenu:
One of the men, destroyed by the ipob miscreants....

He was given an opportunity to return the loot and walk free....but Ipob yoots urged him to turn down the offer, that Igbos are fearless....that as an Israelite, the EfCC would not do anything to him....

But here he is, suffering alone, while they shifted their attention to another useless man, called Fayose...

Igbos are really Useless!

NgeneUkwenu:
One of the men, destroyed by the ipob miscreants....

He was given an opportunity to return the loot and walk free....but Ipob yoots urged him to turn down the offer, that Igbos are fearless....that as an Israelite, the EfCC would not do anything to him....

But here he is, suffering alone, while they shifted their attention to another useless man, called Fayose...

Igbos are really Useless!

NgeneUkwenu:
One of the men, destroyed by the ipob miscreants....

He was given an opportunity to return the loot and walk free....but Ipob yoots urged him to turn down the offer, that Igbos are fearless....that as an Israelite, the EfCC would not do anything to him....

But here he is, suffering alone, while they shifted their attention to another useless man, called Fayose...

Igbos are really Useless!

He is not an Israelite, he is a thief and deserves to be flogged, oya, Olokpa flog Metuh until he vomits the 400 Million Niara

“We are not confident that the court will give us Justice in this matter”, Ikpeazu added.

Consequently, Metuh’s lawyer asked Justice Abang to disqualify himself from further presiding over the matter, a request that was also dismissed by the court.

Chuksonyeike:
Why exactly is buhari and his useless government scared of Dasuki mounting the dock to say his Own side of the story? They keep feeding us stories about him yet they won't allow us hear from him

zoedew:
Quite unfortunate to see Counsel lend his name to such frivolous applications. Counsel ought to be referred to the appropriate body for adequate sanctions. #makingmockeryofthecourt

MutantMetahuman:
so u expect a thief to testify against another thief right?

Chuksonyeike:
Why exactly is buhari and his useless government scared of Dasuki mounting the dock to say his Own side of the story? They keep feeding us stories about him yet they won't allow us hear from him

MutantMetahuman:
so u expect a thief to testify against another thief right?

searchcorp:


What happened to being innocent until proven guilty.

What also happened to Metuh's right to live? Besides, Buhari is in London seeking medical care also.