FORMER National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, on Wednesday, asked Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to subpoena the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), currently in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), to testify as a defence witness in his trial.
This came as his counsels presented to the court a medical report from the National Hospital, Abuja, indicating that Metuh was admitted at the hospital for complications from spinal cord injuries.
Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are facing a seven-count charge for allegedly receiving N400 million from the former NSA and using the same money for the 2015 presidential election for the then ruling party, the PDP.
At the resumed trial on Wednesday, counsel for Metuh, Mr Emeka Etiaba, reminded the judge of the subpoena pending before him since last December, requesting him to order Dasuki to appear as a defence witness in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Etiaba told the court that Dasuki was a key element in the charge preferred against Metuh by the EFCC, adding that his appearance in court was critical for the case of the defence.
Responding to Etiaba’s request, Justice Abang said the defence team should liaise with the prosecution and reach out to the authority in whose custody Dasuki was to allow him appear in court.
“When you raised this matter earlier, I told you to liaise with the prosecution and reach out to the authority holding Colonel Dasuki. I am sure they will oblige you. Talk to the prosecution,” the judge told the defence counsel.
On his part, counsel for the second defendant, Mr Tochukwukwu Onwugbufor, said it was the duty of the court to issue a subpoena to anyone to appear in court.
He said the defence team had on December 2, 2016 prayed the court to subpoena Dasuki to appear before it as the next witness on the ground that since the allegation against Metuh revolved around Dasuki, it was important for Dasuki to be a witness in the matter.
Meanwhile, the defence team had, at the resumed hearing of the proceedings on Wednesday, presented a medical report from the National Hospital, Abuja with details of Metuh’s health condition.
The defence team told the court that Metuh was unable to appear in court because he was admitted at the National Hospital Abuja, for complications arising from spinal cord injuries.
Etiaba said medical experts handling the defendant’s ailment were unable to give the specific date for his full recovery due to the nature of the ailment.
He then asked the court for a three-week adjournment to enable the defendant to recuperate and also seek further medical attention.
Onwugbufor, on his part, told the court that he had seen the medical report and that what Metuh was suffering from is excruciating and requires expert attention to ensure full recovery.
Prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, said he was not opposed to an adjournment, adding that the prosecution sympathised with the defence and wished the defendant quick recovery.
“We have been served with the medical report of the defendant and we have little or nothing to say since the record speaks for itself. All we can say is that we extend our sympathy to the defence.
“With regard to the request for a three-week adjournment, we are taking them by their word since the medical report did not give an indication about how soon the defendant will be discharged. I am not opposed to the adjournment,” Tahir said.
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