By Dele Ogbodo
The former spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh, on Monday collapsed while in court
for on alleged money laundering charges.
He is facing trial on a seven-count charge of money laundering over N400 million allegedly received from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
At the trial proceedings yesterday, Metuh, in an attempt to access the box before the judge asked him to return, but fell as his walker slipped while he was trying at the entrance of the dock.
The court registrar responded immediately through the medical department who came handy to rescue the situation.
After examining the defendant, the medical personnel reported to the court that he should be sent to the National hospital for further examination.
Before the court proceedings, the former PDP Spokesperson had consistently complained of ill-health and had applied for leave of court to travel abroad for medical attention.
The request was however turned down by the Judge.
However, while the medical personnel from the court was attending to Metuh, Justice Abang returned to sit.
He summoned the court registrar Barrister Doyin Olawole, and the two clerks, Omoju James and Dorcas Danjuma to address the court on what transpired.
After narrating one after the other what transpired in court, the court requested the defence counsel to call his eleventh witness.
But, Metuh’s counsel, Emeka Etiaba SAN, declined to continue with the proceedings, stating that he cannot go on when his client was lying critically ill on a stretcher.
He subsequently announced his withdrawal from the trial.
“The 1st defendant had a terrible fall while trying to mount the dock, and I don’t even know if he is alive or not on that stretcher.
“Since the court had insisted on proceeding with trial, I announce my withdrawal from the trial” Etiaba stated.
Abang also threatened to strike out the suit based on what he perceived as the inability of prosecution counsel, Silvanus Tahir to oppose an adjournment by the court based on the opinion of a Medical Doctor from the Federal High Court.
The court wondered why the prosecution after seeing what happened in court, and how a Medical Doctor who was not in court, would request that Metuh be taken to hospital, yet the prosecution did not want to oppose the plea for adjournment.
“The Federal High Court has nothing against the 1st defendant. It is the duty of the prosecution to prosecute it’s case, the court stated.
“This is not a case of the Federal High Court. If the prosecution does not want to proceed with the trial, the court will strike out the case” Justice Abang threatened.
He subsequently adjourned the matter to May 22 for continuation of trial.