The long-expected ruling on the application to travel abroad for
medical treatment by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National
Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, on Thursday, suffered another
setback as the judge asked parties to submit authorities as a
condition for ruling.
After listening to arguments of both parties, Justice Okon
Abang, the trial judge, asked parties to the matter to submit all
authorities cited by their counsels to the court before 12:00 noon
on Friday.
Justice Abang held that upon the receipt of the authorities, the
court will determine the date for ruling on Mr. Metuh’s
application.
The former PDP spokesman and his company, Destra Investments
Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a seven-count charge
of fraud and for allegedly laundering part of the funds linked with
former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki
(retd.).
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, the prosecution
counsel maintained that Exhibit 3 is based on documentary hearsay
and cannot stand on its own.
The defense counsel, however, urged the court to direct the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to constitute a
medical team to assess Mr. Metuh’s health with the view to
ascertaining the veracity of his claim of ill-health. He added that
the content of Exhibit 3 is factual and urged the court to use it
in the determination of the application.
The former PDP spokesman had made many unsuccessful attempts,
through his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, to get the court’s permission
of the court to travel abroad for treatment. He told the court that
his health condition is deteriorating because of spinal cord
compression, which requires a corrective surgery in a London
hospital.
Mr. Metuh recently arrived the court in an ambulance and sat on
a wheelchair in the hope of convincing the court of his state of
health. His application, which was opposed by the prosecutor, Mr.
Sylvanus Tahir, on the ground that he had filed similar ones in the
past, was not granted.
He argued that Mr. Metuh did not provide sufficient materials
before the court to enable the court to grant his request.
The long-expected ruling on the application to travel abroad for
medical treatment by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National
Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, on Thursday, suffered another
setback as the judge asked parties to submit authorities as a
condition for ruling.
After listening to arguments of both parties, Justice Okon
Abang, the trial judge, asked parties to the matter to submit all
authorities cited by their counsels to the court before 12:00 noon
on Friday.
Justice Abang held that upon the receipt of the authorities, the
court will determine the date for ruling on Mr. Metuh’s
application.
The former PDP spokesman and his company, Destra Investments
Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a seven-count charge
of fraud and for allegedly laundering part of the funds linked with
former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki
(retd.).
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, the prosecution
counsel maintained that Exhibit 3 is based on documentary hearsay
and cannot stand on its own.
The defense counsel, however, urged the court to direct the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to constitute a
medical team to assess Mr. Metuh’s health with the view to
ascertaining the veracity of his claim of ill-health. He added that
the content of Exhibit 3 is factual and urged the court to use it
in the determination of the application.
The former PDP spokesman had made many unsuccessful attempts,
through his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, to get the court’s permission
of the court to travel abroad for treatment. He told the court that
his health condition is deteriorating because of spinal cord
compression, which requires a corrective surgery in a London
hospital.
Mr. Metuh recently arrived the court in an ambulance and sat on
a wheelchair in the hope of convincing the court of his state of
health. His application, which was opposed by the prosecutor, Mr.
Sylvanus Tahir, on the ground that he had filed similar ones in the
past, was not granted.
He argued that Mr. Metuh did not provide sufficient materials
before the court to enable the court to grant his request.