Court rules today on Metuh’s request for treatment abroad

• Again ill health stalls PDP scribe’s trial
• Prosecution closes arguments in Orubebe’s case at CCT
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court yesterday said that he will be delivering his ruling today on the request of National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh to seek medical treatment abroad.

Abang declared this even as the trial suffered another set back yesterday with the case adjourned abruptly for the second time in two weeks following the opposition party’s scribe’s ill health.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to Metuh, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), informed the court that the defendant could not make it to the court as he has been placed on bed rest.

To buttress his point, Onyechi presented a letter signed by a consultant neurosurgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. O.O Oyeyele, placing Metuh on bed rest.

His counsel therefore prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable him adequate time to recover and stand his trial.Counsel to the second defendant, Destra Investment Limited, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), also supported the application.

He held that it was proper for the court to adjourn the matter, as the trial cannot proceed without the presence of the accused person. Meanwhile, the prosecution team in the on-going trial of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, closed its case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal yesterday.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution told the court that he was closing his case, having called one witness as against three witnesses earlier mentioned.

The defence counsel, Larry Selekowei, however, informed the tribunal that he intended to call his first defence witness but was taken by surprise as the prosecution closed his case after only one witness.

He told the tribunal that his witnesses were not in court, as he did not envisage that the Prosecution would be closing his case.He therefore asked the tribunal for an adjournment to enable him prepare and present his witnesses.

Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Umar Danladi, consequently adjourned the trial till May 31.Orubebe is facing a one-count charge of alleged false asset declaration when he was the minister of Niger Delta.