The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, was absent from his ongoing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Upon an inquiry by the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, about Metuh’s whereabouts, his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said the defendant was on a bed rest at the National Hospital, Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on charges including fraudulent collection of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014 and using same for PDP’s presidential campaign.
Metuh and Destra Investments Limited are also being tried on charges of money laundering involving alleged cash transaction of $2m.
Justice Abang had on Monday adjourned till Tuesday for the continuation of the testimony of the fifth defence witness, Mr. Richard Ihediwa.
After intimating the judge on why Metuh was absent from court, Ikpeazu passed to the court registrar a medical report signed by a neurosurgeon consultant in the hospital, Dr. O.O Olaleye, confirming that Metuh was in the hospital for a bed rest.
The lawyer, who sought an adjournment of the case, said the situation in section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, in which the judge is allowed to proceed with a criminal trial without the defendant present in court, had not arisen.
The provision of the law provides that the court may proceed with a criminal trial if a defendant already granted bail is absent from court in violation of a court order or in the absence any good reason for the absence of the defendant.
?Destra’s lawyer, Tochukwu Nwugbufor (SAN), had supported the request for adjournment insisting that by virtue of the provisions of section 352(4) of the ACJ Act, the court could never proceed with the trial in Metuh’s absence.
Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, also did not oppose the application for adjournment but also referred the court to section 266(a) and (b) of the ACJ Act which makes it mandatory for a defendant to be present in court whenever his trial comes up.
The judge, in a ruling, which he delivered after entertaining the submission of parties to the case, noted that though Metuh had good reason to be absent from court, the medical report was unhelpful, as it failed to indicate the period which the bed rest would last.
The judge said the omission of the period for the bed rest in the medical report had left doubt to whether the report was issued in bad faith.
The judge conceded to the request for adjournment and fixed May 30 for continuation of trial.
Justice Abang also fixed Wednesday (tomorrow) for ruling on an application by Metuh seeking the release of his passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.
판다스 포춘
Zhu Houzhao는 “쓰레기 처리는 어떻습니까? “라고 다시 말했습니다.
북 오브 데드
그러므로 … Hongzhi 황제가 너무 열정적 인 것을보고 Fang Jifan은 조금 주저했습니다.
돌리고 슬롯
그의 침착함은 침묵의 대결처럼 보였다.
프라그마틱 무료 슬롯
선철이 있으면 부자가되는 데 며칠이 걸리지 않을까 두렵습니다.
트레져스 오브 아즈텍
이 개는 마치 자신을 나쁘게 대했던 것처럼 실제로 감히 불쌍하게 울었습니다.
온라인 슬롯 게임 추천
그러나 Xishan New City가 급증하자 많은 사람들이 유혹을 받았습니다.
하이브 슬롯
Fang Jifan은 “왜 Wang Bo’an에게 경고하고 싶습니까? “라고 설득력있게 말했습니다.
메이저 슬롯
하지만 그럼에도 불구하고 여전히 수많은 사람들이 몰려들고 있습니다.
포춘 슬롯
그리고는 잠시 말을 멈추고 절을 하며 길들여진 모습을 보였다.
하바네로 슬롯
“아니요.” Wang Jinyuan은 어리석게 말했습니다. “여기 바로 아래에있는 Sheng Jia입니다.”
오공 슬롯
Fang Jifan의 말을 듣고 Hongzhi 황제는 다시 생각에 빠졌습니다.
토토 사이트 검증
Liu Jin은 당분간 문제를 일으킬 수 없으며 도시를 지키는 것이 지금 모두에게 가장 중요한 일입니다.
톰 오브 매드니스
두 사람은 마치 서로에 대한 아이디어를 내놓고 싶어하는 듯 입을 다물었다.
무료 슬롯 사이트
“이건 가짜 칙령인가?” 마순은 잠시 생각했지만 감히 마음을 정하지 못했다.
무료 슬롯 머신
Fang Jifan은 기침을했습니다. “전하, 황후가 의미하는 바는 그녀가 그것을 매우 좋아한다는 것입니다.”
입플
그러나 皇告으로 임명되었고, 秦朱 新儒는 科詞의 유일한 논평이었다.
넷마블 슬롯
Fang Jifan은 내 마음을 아는 하늘에 비명을 지르고 싶었습니다.