Olisa Metuh’s Hearing To Hold In His Absence, Court Rules

Court to continue Olisa Metuh’s ruling in his absence. (Photo credit: File Photo)

Court Has The Right To Proceed In His Absence – Abang

The trail of Olisa Metuh, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been ruled by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to continue in his absence.

In the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Okon Abang, said the court had the power to process with the trail in Metuh’s absence, in respect to the defendant’s previous attempts to stall the trail.

Recall that Naija News had earlier reported that Olisa Metuh collapse in the court during the proceeding on Monday and the Judge did claim that the defendant intentionally fell down on his own.

The judge ruled, “The application by prosecution deserves to succeed.

“The trial shall proceed in the absence of the defendant. See Section 266(a) and section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.”

The court also summoned the General Manager of the Channels Television in Abuja and a presenter with the television, Mrs. Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, to appear before the court on May 25.

The judge said the television’s officials were being summoned in respect of the prosecution’s allegation that the television aired prejudicial statements allegedly made by a lawyer in Metuh’s defence team, Mr. Ben Chuks Nwosu, during the medium’s Tuesday’s edition of Sunrise Daily.

The defendant was taken away from the court in an ambulance after been tested by medical teams and has since been absent from the ruling.

The judge noted that Metuh chose to deliberately ignore the lawful directive of the court instructing him to remain seated and not to go into the dock.