Justice Abang proceeds with trial despite Metuh, lawyers’ absence

The Federal High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang on Friday refused to border itself with the absence of Olisa Metuh and his lawyers.

Justice Abang ordered for proceedings in the trial of Metuh, a former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), despite Metuh and his lawyers’ absence in court.

Earlier, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), counsel for Metuh’s co-accused, Destra Investment Limited, had raised an objection to the development.

He had argued that the law never envisaged that a criminal trial would ever be conducted behind a defendant and his counsel.

His objection was however overruled by the trial judge, who held that although the court had ruled that the matter would proceed in Metuh ’s absence, that the absence of the defence team was designed to frustrate the trial.

According to Justice Abang, the court did not bar Metuh from the proceedings but only held that “the trial will proceed in his absence” owing to what the court tagged the defendant’s ”misconduct” in court on Monday.

Metuh is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his company, Destra Investment Limited, over an allegation that he received N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) prior to the 2015 presidential election, without executing any contract.

He had since his fall and collapse in court on Monday been absent from the trial.

But his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), who had been appearing for him was absent in court on Thursday and Friday proceedings without any reason offered.

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Also no lawyer in the defendant’s defence team led by Etiaba and another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, attended the Thursday and Friday proceedings.

Justice Abang, who was forced to adjourn the matter on Thursday due to the absence of legal representation for Metuh could not repeat same on Friday.

 

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