The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered that the ongoing trial of former National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh will be conducted in his absence because of his misconduct.
The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, gave the order on Wednesday in Abuja while ruling on an application by Metuh’s counsel, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, (SAN) that the matter be adjourned to allow Metuh recuperate.
It will be recalled that the prosecutor, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, on Tuesday, following Metuh’s absence in court and in spite of Etiaba’s application for an adjournment, prayed the court to proceed with the matter.
Tahir told the court that although the law said defendants in criminal matters must be present in court, there was an exception to the rule where a misconduct was established.
The prosecutor maintained that the circumstances that led to Metuh’s fall on May 21, resulting in his absence in court were a clear disregard for the orders of court and constituted a misconduct.
Justice Abang in his ruling said that he agreed with the submission of the prosecution that Metuh willfully disobeyed court directives.
“I entirely agree with the submission of Tahir that what transpired in the court room amounts to a misconduct by willfully failing to abide by the directives of the court to remain on his seat.
“The court had directed the defendant to remain on his seat because in my view, he wanted to give the impression that he could not walk properly since he was using a walking aid.
“The defendant ignored the directive of the court and headed for the dock then he fell which made the court to adjourn for 29 minutes.
“When the court reconvened, I saw the court’s doctor, Adaora Ikezor, in the court room, she approached the bench and told the court that the defendant needed to be taken to the hospital.
“I notice that the defendant was on the floor and the people around him did not make an attempt to lift him up,” Abang said.
According to Abang, Metuh was whispering loudly and groaning intermittently, giving the impression that he was in pain, making the temple of justice appear like an accident scene.
The judge added that the doctor had no business being in court since he was not sure under whose authority she came into the court saying it was not under the court’s directives.
“In a normal situation, if there is an emergency in the court room, anybody can call a medical doctor to attend to the situation.
“But where the issue involves a defendant in a criminal trial, and the proceedings are ongoing, not adjourned, a medical doctor cannot attend to the defendant that purportedly needs medical attention without the permission of the court.
“This is because looking at the checkered history of this case, the court doctor cannot just on her own decide to attend to the defendant without the knowledge and permission of the court.”
He added that since there was no material placed by the defendant in court explaining his condition, it could not be presumed the court was aware of the state or condition he was in.
The judge held that Metuh had jumped bail by failing to attend court on May 22 without any reasonable explanation for his absence.
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He said that under Section 266(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the court was entitled to proceed with the trial of the case in the absence of the defendant.
He judge opined that if Metuh did not intend to frustrate the trial, why had he not appealed the three previous ruling of the court that refused to order the release of his international passport.
The judge also ordered the General Manager of Channels Television and one of its presenters to appear in court on May 25.
They were to appear and show cause why an order should not be made to compel them to produce the tape of a programme aired on May 22 where prejudicial comments were made.
He adjourned the matter until May 24 for continuation of trial in Metuh’s absence saying Metuh would not be denied fair trial.
(NAN)
