Connect with us

Politics

FRAUDULENT MEDICAL REPORT: Justice Abang vows to return Metuh to prison if …

Published

on

Justice Abang proceeds with trial despite Metuh, lawyers' absence

An Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang on Thursday accused former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, of smuggling into court a fraudulent medical report.

He vowed to send Metuh back to prison if he does not turn a new leaf.

This was as the trial judge also declined an application filed by Metuh for an adjournment of his case as a result of ill health.

The former spokesperson of the PDP and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on seven counts bothering on alleged fraudulent reception of N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in 2014.

Metuh had on Monday and Tuesday failed to appear in court for his ongoing trial on the claim that he was on admission at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State.

The anti-graft agency, not satisfied with that claim, had on Tuesday prayed the court to annul the bail it granted Metuh and send him back to prison.

When the case resumed on Thursday, the court was presented with an official medical report on the defendant’s illness.

But Justice Abang, noted that the report was fraudulently smuggled into the court, wondering why the report failed to give any reasonable explanations as to the nature of Metuh’s illness.

Consequently, he said that the report was useless and only fit for the trash can.

Speaking further, Justice Abang said that Metuh having abused his right, that the court will no longer entertain any medical report from any doctor in Nigeria on his behalf.

READ ALSO:
ALLEGED GRAFT: Floored at Appeal Court, EFCC drags Justice Nganjiwa to S’Court

On EFCC prayer to have Metuh’s bail revoked, the trial judge said that he would still show compassion and suspend his decision to revoke Metuh’s bail and hopes he turns a new leaf and attends his trial.

The judge then promised that should the defendant fail to change his behaviour that he would be left with no option that revoke the bail granted him.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to February 5 and 6 2018 and asked that every witness must be lined up by the defence in court on the said dates.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now