Olisa Metuh's trial on stand down...
A Federal High Court on Tuesday, January 26 stood down the trial of Olisa Metuh over lateness from prison officials.
On calling the case, a counsel, Susuwam who is holding brief for the defense counsel, Sylvester Tahir prayed the court to stand down the case pending the arrival of Metuh from Kuje prison.
Susuwam said he had called the officer in charge of bringing inmates who informed him that they are on their way coming.
Having no objections from the defense counsel, the judge over the case, Okon Abang said officials must learn to take timing serious.
He said he already had a timeframe for which the present matter should stay in court.
Adding that he also needed to round off with the matter to enable him attend to another matter in Lagos.
An angry Abang said: “The prison officials cannot keep holding this matter down, so tell them, this is the last time I will be standing a matter down for them.”
“It all depends on the attitude of the prison officials, if they make up their mind to be here before 9 am they will make it, unless they are used to coming to court late.” Abang said.
He went further to add: “This matter has been reluctantly stood down to 10 am at the instance of the prosecution.”
On calling the case, a counsel, Susuwam who is holding brief for the defense counsel, Sylvester Tahir prayed the court to stand down the case pending the arrival of Metuh from Kuje prison.
Susuwam said he had called the officer in charge of bringing inmates who informed him that they are on their way coming.
Having no objections from the defense counsel, the judge over the case, Okon Abang said officials must learn to take timing serious.
He said he already had a timeframe for which the present matter should stay in court.
Adding that he also needed to round off with the matter to enable him attend to another matter in Lagos.
An angry Abang said: “The prison officials cannot keep holding this matter down, so tell them, this is the last time I will be standing a matter down for them.”
“It all depends on the attitude of the prison officials, if they make up their mind to be here before 9 am they will make it, unless they are used to coming to court late.” Abang said.
He went further to add: “This matter has been reluctantly stood down to 10 am at the instance of the prosecution.”
But just as the judge finished his statement, the prison officials walked in as the prosecution announced that the accused person has arrived.
But Abang said he cannot go back on what is on record and that the stand down holds.
Metuh, the spokesperson for the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) is standing trial for corruption and money laundering charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At his trial on Monday, January 25, two prosecution witness gave details of how they received millions of naira, changed currencies and made investment for Metuh.
At the beginning of the hearing of the PDP’s spokesman yesterday, Metuh was docked at the court. He was again brought to the court in handcuffs.
Meanwhile, Adeyanju Deji, the PDP’s director of new media, recently accused President Muhammadu Buhari of denying him access to Chief Metuh.
