Godwin Tsa; Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Former publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, was, yesterday, taken into the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a stretcher, forcing Justice Okon Abang to shift his trial to March. Citing his protracted ill health, the court agreed with Metuh’s lawyers and the prosecution counsel that his trial be given a month’s adjournment to enable his recovery.
Metuh was wheeled into the courtroom by a team of medical experts after emerging from an ambulance marked 44Q-20 FG belonging to the National Hospital, Abuja. The former PDP spokesperson, who is standing trial alongside his company, Destra Investment Limited, over an alleged N400 million fraud, lay motionless on the stretcher throughout the one hour duration of proceedings.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the money was wired from an account operated with the Central Bank of Nigeria by the Office of the Nationa; Security Adviser to Metuh, through a Diamond Bank account, 0040437573, belonging to his company, Destra Investment Limited.
His appearance yesterday in court was necessitated by the threat by the court to revoke his bail, if he failed to come for his trial. Metuh had on the last two adjournments failed to appear in court on health grounds.
Metuh’s lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, made a passionate appeal before Justice Abang to adjourn the matter in view of the current state of health of his client.
Ikpeazu informed the court that his client was discharged from hospital against medical advice as his doctors warned seriously on the consequences of the action.
Prof. Wilfred Mezue, a consultant neurosurgeon, who signed the letter, further warned that the hospital would not be liable for any adverse consequences of his action. Metuh’s lawyers further exhibited another document disclosing that Metuh had earlier paid N198,000 to Memphis Hospital for an MRI scan to be conducted on him.
On his part, counsel to Destra Investment Limited, Tochukwu Onwugbufor, SAN, pleaded with the judge to show the milk of human sympathy, which has characterised his adjudication in the matter, and adjourn the case.
According to Onwugbufor, “even if the court proceeds with the matter, he will not understand the proceedings because he is a sick man.”
“So, anything you are saying or doing he does not know. So, what is the use of the trial when the person being tried does not understand the sequence of what is going on? I urge the court should grant adjournment to enable him get recovery and face his trial as a whole man. That is the root of fair trial,” he said.
Responding to the application for an adjournment, the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, said he was just served a copy of the affidavit of facts by Metuh’s lawyer: “We are not in a position to counter what is contained in the document as well as what has been amplified by his lawyers.”
In his ruling, Justice Abang said: “A court of law must be firm in its decision. A court of law must be fair to parties and, when occasion demands, a court should also be humane. I am, therefore, inclined to exercise my discretion in favour of the defendant to enable him to receive medical treatment. This case is further adjourned till 14, 15 and 16 March.”
Immediately the case was adjourned, Metuh was wheeled into the ambulance and taken to the intensive care unit.
Medical doctors and other personnel of the hospital were making frantic efforts to stabilize him when Daily Sun correspondent visited his bedside at the hospital. He was surrounded by family members, friends and associates.
Metuh, however, registered his frustration that Justice Abang has objected to several applications for him to seek medical treatment abroad.
“Right to life is my first fundamental human right. I have pleaded with the court to grant me permission to seek medical treatment abroad but that request has been turned down severally,” he said.