Drama as Metuh arrives court in ambulance

Olisa Metuh, forrmer spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arrived at the federal high court, Abuja, in an ambulance on Monday.

Metuh is standing trial over allegations of receiving N400 million from Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, and also money laundering charges involving $2 billion.

He was absent when the case was heard in court last week.

Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), his counsel, had said his client was absent because he was admitted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, and was unable to attend court.

Ikpeazu presented a letter written by a doctor in the hospital to the court, but both the judge and the prosecutor questioned the authenticity of the letter.

Okon Abang, the judge, had ordered Metuh to appear or risk being arrested.

He was wheeled into the court premises amid reactions from people present.

Ikpeazu informed the court that attempts to get Metuh’s doctor to give a timeframe for which he would be released from hospital proved abortive.

He, however, made a case for his client to be given a one-month adjournment as he was hopeful that Metuh should be fit to continue with his trial within the period.

Ikpeazu explained further that one month was a reasonable period for the doctors to carry out a valuable and reasonable assessment of his client.

In his ruling, Abang said he has seen that the former PDP spokesman in a state in which he cannot continue with the trial.

“On account of the condition I have seen him in the courtroom,” he said.

The trial judge held that even though the court of law must be firm in its decisions, it must be fair to parties and when occasion demands, the court needs to also be humane.

He then adjourned the case till March 14, 15 and 16, as pleaded by his counsel.

Metuh was consequently wheeled out of the courtroom and placed in an ambulance which conveyed him to the court.