– A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused an application by Olisa Metuh to call Sambo Dasuki as witness in his case
– Justice Okon Abang told Metuh’s counsel to liaise with the prosecution on the matter
– He said he will not grant a subpoena ordering Dasuki’s appearance as witness before the court
Justice Abang has declined an application by Metuh to call Sambo Dasuki as witness in his trial
A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined an application by the former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party Olisa Metuh to call up Sambo Dasuki as witness.
The court asked the defence team to liaise with the prosecution on the matter.
Dasuki, a former national security adviser is currently being detained by the Department of State Security.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had alleged that Metuh had illegally received N400 million from Dasuki as part of funding for the 2015 PDP campaign.
READ ALSO: Just in: Ex-PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh collapses, hospitalised
Metuh had in an application prayed the court to grant a subpoena requesting Dasuki to appear before the court as a defence witness in his criminal trial.
Emeka Etiaba, counsel to the former PDP spokesperson had on Wednesday, January 11, reminded the court that a subpoena filed in December 2016 in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was still pending before the court.
Etiaba told the court that Dasuki is a key element in the charge against his client by the EFCC.
He said Dasuki’s appearance in court was critical for the case of the defence.
But responding to the reminder, Justice Okon Abang said the defence should reach out to the authority in whose custody the former NSA is being detained to allow him appear in court.
Abang said: “When you raise this matter earlier, I told you to liaise with the prosecution and reach out to the authority holding Col. Dasuki. I am sure they will oblige you. Talk to the prosecution”, the judge told the defence counsel.
In his reaction to the judge’s decline, counsel to the second defendant – Destra Investment – Tochukwu Onwubufor told the judge that the law mandates the court to sign a subpoena.
Onwubufor said such order makes is appropriate for anyone to appear before the court as witness.
He added that such responsibility under the law lies with the judge and not parties in a case.
However, Abang standing his ground said the court will not issue such an order until the parties meet with the DSS.
READ ALSO: EFCC grills APC legal adviser for bribing judge, seizes his passport
The judge further adjourned hearing on the matter to February 20 to 24 over medical reports from the National Hospital that Metuh was admitted for complications from a spinal cord ailment.
Metuh is facing charges bordering on money laundering.
Yesterday, his counsel informed the court that he slumped for the second time since his trial and was receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Abuja.
The former PDP spokesperson had also applied for leave from the court to travel abroad for treatment, an application which was declined by Justice Abang.
360naze
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