Ebun Francis|
The trial of Olisa Metuh, former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will continue, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Wednesday.
Justice Okon-Abang said that Metuh stage-managed his fall in the court room on Monday to stall his trial.
The embattled former PDP spokesman is facing a seven-count charge before the court for alleged diversion of N400 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Metuh was absent in court.
His defence team applied for an indefinite adjournment of the trial following his absence in court which they attributed to ill health.
The application was rejected by the prosecuting team and the subsequently adjourned until Wednesday for a ruling.
The trial judge, Okon Abang, in his ruling said that the trial should continue since there is still no valid evidence before the court for Metuh’s absence.
The Judge noted that Metuh did not collapse in the court room on Monday but rather fell on his own while walking towards the dock, after ignoring the directives of the court to sit for his trial.
“And while on the floor, he made series of groans which stopped the proceedings making the court room look like an accident scene,” Abang said.
“There was no attempt even by those he came with to raise him, which also delayed the proceeding for 29 minutes.
“However, the court doctor was not in the court to see what transpired, so how did she know there was an emergency?
“And as a court doctor, you are expected to have invitation to attend to emergencies, so who gave her the order and who is she to tell the court that the defendant was in need of medical attention?”
Justice Abang said the first defendant’s fall on Monday was deceitful, describing it as something planned or calculated.
“It is a complete disregard and disobedience to the court and so the defendant has jumped bail, as there is no reasonable application for the defendant’s absence.
“And as such, the trial will continue 24th May 2018 by 1 p.m,” Abang ruled.