Metuh’s trial: Court strikes out Dasuki’s application against subpoena

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an application by the detained National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, seeking an order setting aside the subpoena directing him to appear in court to testify on behalf of a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, ruled that having been ordered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on September 29, 2017, he lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the motion on merit.

He held that determining the motion on merit would amount to an attempt to review the judgment of a higher court, the Court of Appeal.

He held that all issues raised by Dasuki, through his lawyer,Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), had become academic since the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the complaints.

According to the judge, it would amount to “judicial anarchy” to hear Dasuki’s application on merit.

“If the applicant(Dasuki) is dissatisfied, he should know what to do and where to go, but certainly not this court,” the judge ruled.

But Dasuki, despite the subpoena issued on him upon Metuh’s application directing the Department of State Service to produce the detainee, is absent from court on Wednesday.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan also ordered by the court to appear in court upon an application by Metuh was also absent.
But a court registrar confirmed to the judge on Wednesday that Jonathan had yet to be served with the subpoena by the court bailiff as of Tuesday.

But the Department of State Service in whose custody Dasuki is detained has yet to produce the ex-NSA in court.

The judge had announced in court on Tuesday that he had, on Monday, issued a subpoena to be served on Jonathan.

But the judge, who fixed Wednesday (today) for his ruling on Dasuki’s motion, had ordered that both the ex-NSA and Jonathan must appear in court on Wednesday(today).

The two men were summoned by the court upon an application by Metuh requesting that they be ordered to testify in his defence with respect to the sum of N400m which he was said to have received fraudulently from the Office of the NSA in 2014.

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We are ready to return our loot to avoid going to jail – Metuh, Amosun, others beg EFCC

Three high profile personalities involved in corruption trials have allegedly registered their interest to return their share of looted funds. 

Metuh is currently being prosecuted for allegedly receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki, rtd, while Amosu is accused of conspiring with his colleague to defraud the Nigerian AirForce to the tune of N50m while he was in office.

Umar on his part is being investigated for money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N9.7billion.

The report quoted an EFCC source as saying, “We have formally received letters of plea bargain from three accused persons, Metuh, Umar and Amos. We are studying their terms. We may enter into a plea bargain with the accused persons if it will serve the public interest. The interest is getting back the stolen funds. If they can fulfill this condition (public interest), we may accept their offers.”

-DP

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Court rejects Metuh’s application to seek treatment abroad

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ‎on Wednesday turned down an application filed by former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh seeking for leave to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The presiding judge, Justice Okon ‎Abang held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the application because there was a subsisting order directing Metuh to deposit his international passport with the Chief Registrar of the High Court.

Pointing out that the order had not been set aside, he stated that the court would, therefore, not grant the defendant’s request. The judge stated that one of the requirements for Metuh’s bail was the depositing of his international passport at the court, but added that the defendant did not apply to vary the bail conditions.

According to him, “This is not a case of sympathy, but a case of law.‎ This court has no jurisdiction to entertain this application.

“The court is not Father Christmas to give to the defendant what it did not ask for.

“The application lacks merit. It is accordingly dismissed. The court cannot set aside its decision.”

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Olisa Metuh vomits in court, trial stalled

The trial of the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, has stalled after he repeatedly threw up at the Federal High Court in Abuja today May 19th.

Counsel to Olisa Metuh, Etiaba Etiaba, told the court today that Metuh became ill last night and was rushed to the hospital by his brother-in-law, Andy Aghaji. At the hospital, they were told the doctors and nurses were on strike. He however met a doctor who prescribed some drugs for him and told him to return today for another medication by 11am.

Bearing in mind that he had to be in court today, the doctor advised that he should manage to go but should be brought to the hospital immediately after his appearance in court.

However on getting to the court premises, Metuh began to vomit and had no strength to go into the court room. His counsel asked that the case be adjourned so he could get proper medical attention. The presiding judge then adjourned the case till May 23rd.

Metuh is being tried for allegedly receiving N400 million from the office of the Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. The money according to EFCC is from the looted $2.1 billion arms procurement fund.

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Court grants Metuh N600m bail

Justice Isaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Federal High Court on Friday granted the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, bail in the sum of N300m and two sureties in like sum.

The embattled PDP spokesman was on Thursday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before the court on a two-count charge of destruction of evidence, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Metuh arrived the FCT High Court premises for debate on his bail application in company of officers of the Nigeria Prison Service though without handcuffs but was driven from prison in handcuffs. Upon arrival at the court, the metal restraint was removed.

During the proceedings, Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, appealed to the court to be lenient in granting the accused person bail, arguing that Metuh was presumed innocent under the law until he is pronounced guilty by the court. Ikpeazu therefore asked the court to grant his client bail on self-recognisance.

However, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, did not object to the bail application but he urged the court to grant Metuh bail on strict terms that he would not jump bail and will be present in court for his trial.

In his ruling, Justice Bello granted Metuh bail in the sum of N600m and two sureties in like sum.

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