Politics
SUBPOENA ON JONATHAN: Our lives under threat, Metuh’s lawyer claims
Emeka Etiaba (SAN), lawyer to the former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh, has alleged that his life, that of his client, and another defence lawyer have been under threat over efforts to serve subpoena on the former President Goodluck Jonathan.
There have been efforts to serve a subpoena on Jonathan to compel him to appear to testify in Metuh’s ongoing trial after Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the prayer of Metuh demanding it.
But Etiaba on Monday said that there has been threats to his life, that of the lead defence counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and Metuh over the move to have Jonathan summoned to testify in the case.
Etiaba said, “This subpoena is one that has generated quite a lot of controversy, not just to our client but to myself. The threat goes to the life of the first defendant, myself and Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu.”
He however added, “This (threat) will not make us change our mind as to whether His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will come and testify or not. But we shall only plead with this honourable court to allow us make another attempt on December 11, 2017 at serving him with the subpoena.”
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Etiaba’s claim followed a report of the court bailiff contained in an affidavit he filed before the court informing it that several attempts to serve the former president in his Abuja home could not yield fruit.
In the affidavit read by a court registrar when the matter came up on Monday, the Bailiff recalled his last attempt to serve Jonathan, how a guard told him that the former leader travelled abroad and would be available on December 11.
According to the affidavit, the bailiff was told to come back to Jonathan’s residence in the afternoon of December 11 to serve the former resident with the subpoena.
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