SUBPOENA: Jonathan asks court to order Metuh to pay him N1bn travel expenses from Otuoke to Abuja

Former president Goodluck Jonathan Monday asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to set aside the subpoena ordering him to appear in court as a witness to testify in defence of a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.

Jonathan also sought an alternative prayer, an order directing Metuh to deposit with the court for and on behalf of him, the sum of N1bn to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel from his hometown, Otuoke in Bayelsa State, to Abuja.

According to the former president, the money was to cover the time that he may spend appearing before the court.

Jonathan argued that his request was in line with the provisions of Section 241(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Read also: Accused of conspiracy against Jonathan, Metuh orders lawyers to review subpoena

This follows separate applications by Metuh for which Justice Okon Abang issued two subpoenas ordering Jonathan and the detained former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, to appear in court on Tuesday.

Justice Abang had while ordering Jonathan to appear in court on Tuesday, also ordered the court bailiff to ensure the service of the subpoena on Jonathan within five days.

Jonathan and Dasuki were summoned by the court upon applications by Metuh requesting that they testify in his defence regarding the N400 million he was alleged to have illicitly received from the former NSA under Jonathan.

 

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