N400m alleged fraud: Court fixes June 23 for continuation of Metuh’s trial

Justice Okoh Abang on Wednesday fixed June 23 for continuation of trial of the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party ((PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, following the absence of defence lead counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), in court.

The trial judge also declared as improper and unethical the letter written to the court but addressed to him instead of the Registrar by Ikpeazu.

He said the letter which explained lkpeazu’s absence in court on Wednesday would not be acted upon because “he (the judge) is not a party to the suit. I shall not act on any letter addressed to me. In fact, it is unethical.”

According to the judge, adjournments are at the discretion of the court. He noted that on June 19 when Ikpeazu applied to the court that he should be excused, no material was placed before the court.

In any case, the learned senior advocate ought to have attended this trial that has reached an advance stage, after calling the seven defence witnesses but decided to attend to another matter holding before Justice Omotosho at a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Port Harcourt, he stated.

Justice Abang said that he would have refused the adjournment but for the simple fact that the prosecution counsel had conceded to an adjournment.

The prosecution lead counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, had told the court that though the matter was for continuation of the seventh defence witness evidence, he was served with a letter from the 1st defendant counsel.

“I am not opposed to the application as counsel. At times you do find yourself in this difficulty and for the integrity of the counsel, we shall not oppose his suggestion that the case should be adjourned to date order than June 22.

The 2nd defendant, Destra investment company’s counsel, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), also did not oppose the adjournment.

At the trial on Tuesday, the seventh defence witness, Prince Sam Nwosu, the chairman of Nnewi community in Abuja, had informed the court that the 1st defendant (Metuh) is a prince and a noble son of Nnewi, Anambra state.

He said that Metuh has represented Anambra state and the entire South East in the executive council of the PDP for years without blemish.