The trial of a former National Publicity of the Peoples Democratic, Chief Olisa Metuh, proceeded before the Federal High Court in Abuja in his absence and that of his lawyers on Friday.
Metuh has, since his fall in court on Monday, been absent from the trial.
His lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), who had since been appearing for him, did not attend the the Thursday’s and Friday’s proceedings without any explanation offered for his absence.
No lawyer in the defendant’s defence team led by Etiaba and another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, attended the Thursday’s and Friday’s proceedings.
Justice Okon Abang was forced to adjourned on Thursday due to absence of legal representation for Metuh on Thursday.
READ ALSO : DNA tests show 70% kids not born by men they call fathers
But on Friday, the judge ordered the continuation of the trial after overruling an objection to the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, for the trial to proceed in the absence of Metuh and his lawyers.
The objection was raised by Mr. Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), the counsel for Metuh’s co-accused, Destra Investment Limited, who had argued that the law never envisaged that a criminal trial would ever be conducted behind a defendant and his counsel.
But in dismissing the objection, Justice Abang ruled that although the court had ruled that the matter would proceed in Metuh’s absence, the absence of the defence team was designed to frustrate the trial.
The judge explained that the court did not bar Metuh from the proceedings but only held that “the trial will proceeding in his absence” due to what the court described as the defendant’s ”misconduct” in court on Monday.
READ ALSO : Sack Dogara, 9 others for dragging APC to court over congresses
Are you an artiste? Do you want your music to go viral and reach a large number of audience? Promote your music and Submit your story on Ujuayalogusblog.com by clicking here. For Advert Inquiries Tel/+44(0)7590363984 Subscribe to Ujuayalogusblog.com News!
For More: Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment