Olisa Metuh, Former spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to compel former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to testify in his trial.
Metuh is standing trial for allegedly collecting the sum of N400 million from Dasuki; money the federal government says was part of the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the country’s military.
The former NSA himself is already facing charges for the alleged crime.At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Metuh’s lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, SAN, reminded Justice Okon Abang, of a pending subpoena before the court to invite Dasuki as the next witness.
The defence team filed the subpoena on December 2, 2016.
But Justice Abang advised that both the defence and prosecuting counsels should liaise with the authority holding Dasuki to release him to appear in court.
He added that it was important that the defence and prosecution should approach the relevant authority first and then come back to the court if the authority refused to release Dasuki to them.
Counsel to the second defendant, Tochukwukwu Onwugbufor, SAN, however maintained that it was the duty of the court to issue a subpoena to anyone to appear in court.
The defence team, while filing the subpoena, argued that since the allegation against Metuh revolved around Dasuki, it was important for Dasuki to be a witness in the matter.
Meanwhile, Metuh was again not present in court on Wednesday.
His counsel had told the court on Tuesday that his client was hospitalized at the National Hospital.
Etiaba during Wednesday’s hearing presented a medical report from the Hospital with details of Metuh’s health condition which has to do with complications arising from spinal cord injuries.
He told Justice Abang that the experts taking care of Metuh did not give a specific date for his full recovery due to the nature of the ailment.
He asked the court for a three-week adjournment so that the defendant can recuperate and also seek further medical attention.
Counsel to the second accused person, Onwugbufor, in support of Etiaba, told the court that he had the same health challenge as Metuh, but was only able to get appropriated medicare in London.
He prayed Justice Abang to look at the first defendant’s case with compassion since his condition was even more critical.
Prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, said that he was not opposed to an adjournment, as he sympathizes with Metuh and wished him a quick recovery.
He said: “We have been served with the medical report of the defendant andwe have little or nothing to say since the record speaks for itself. All we can say is that we extend our sympathy to the defence.
Abang then adjourned the trial to February 24 for continuation of hearing.