Justice Abang definitely knew Metuh as classmate - Chidi Odinkalu

Justice Abang definitely knew Metuh as classmate – Chidi Odinkalu

March 20, 2016Sani Tukur

Prof Chidi Odinkalu

The immediate past chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has stated that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja knows the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, as a former classmate.

Mr. Metuh, who is facing trial over corruption charges in the court sitting under Mr. Abang, had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta, demanding that the case be withdrawn from Mr. Abang and assigned to another judge.

Mr. Metuh’s grounds were that Mr. Abang and he were classmates at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. He also said he feared he might not get fair trial from Mr. Abang because of some views expressed by the Judge when they met at a function in Akwa Ibom State last year.

In reaction, Justice Abang, on Thursday, said he was not aware Mr. Metuh was his classmate.

“I am not aware that the first defendant was my classmate, he said he is my classmate,” the judge said.

However, checks by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that Messrs. Abang and Metuh graduated on the same day, November 3, 1988 from the law school.

In a short reaction to our story on Sunday, Mr. Odinkalu said Mr. Abang “surely knows that he and Olisa went to school together.”

The former human rights chief said he was also in the same class with Messrs. Metuh and Abang as well as some other prominent Nigerians.

“We were all in the same law school set in 1988. We were all admitted to the Bar same day on 3 Nov 1988.

“Fashola, Anyim, Godswill Akpabio, Liyel Imoke, Nnia Nwodo all were in that set.
“I know Olisa and Abang have been together at more than two class reunions. In Lagos, Uyo. Someone isn’t being totally candid,” Mr. Odinkalu said.

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e_orpheus

What’s all the fuss about? Please help me out anyone, how does their graduating from the same class affect the interpretation of evidence before a judge? If Metuh has evidence of interacting with Abang on a personal level he thinks sufficient to disqualify Abang from handling the case, in or outside the courtroom, he should let us know.
Or is it against ethics of the legal profession to try a former classmate?
- Justice
  
  Read @Genus.
  - e_orpheus
    
    I have.
    I don’t know where that information came from – about ‘chatting at a function in AkwaIbom’. Haven’t seen it in any of the papers. The rest of the comment is speculation (‘maybe Abang doesn’t like Metuh that’s why bail conditions were stringent’). Mr Metuh is very vocal and is likely to widely publicize that kind of information.
Eniriches

They were class mates, and so what? Methu was probably expecting the Judge to rule on the no case submission in his favour. The incorruptible Judge, did not obliged him, so the Judge must be pulled down, it’s the NJC find a way of tackling these nonsense, before all the Judges in our courts are smeared.
Abiboss

Classmate or no classmate defend yourself Methu. This is irrelevant to me. Your classmate should be the one favors you if you are not really guilty. Oh Methu already played that card behind door but didn’t work. Methu can appeal after the ruling instead of using delaying tactics like the rest of kind.
Maria

Can you now see this Mr righteous odinkalu? I knew something is always not right about this cat-looking man…now he is trying to help his criminal eboe tribe man thwart the course of justice. God punish all of you. If they were classmates, what has that got to do with the current case? Moreso, it is possible for Mr Abang not to know Metuh. I know then the only law school in Nigeria was Lagos law school serving the entire country….so your class must definitely be a very large class. To eboe people, when their people are caught stealing they are all out defending them… what a people!
- Excisionist
  
  Maria, what is Metu’s crime? Not everyone being apprehended by Buhari is a criminal. Political opponents are top on the list whether they committed any crimes or not.
  
  Another issue: try to lean the names of tribes in Nigeria and how to spell them OK?
  - Deen Tee
    
    You no know im crime? Dey say im tief. Inugo!!!
- onovo
  
  Pls is Igbo not eboe
- Justice
  
  Let me waste a few seconds of my time on you. You have proved that you are an infantile irritant and attention seeker. Hence your constant silly talk about Ndigbo. If your anger against Ndigbo is because some Ibo chap didn’t pay for your services please chase him and collect your money. Otherwise your bigotry is truly a waste. You and your fellow travellers can continue to call us all the names you can come up with. We are Ndigbo and we have no apologies whatsoever.
- Onike24
  
  @Maria, never let emotions rule your objectivity, what has Odinkalu done to receive any insults now? Metuh said Judge was his classmate, Judge said he wasn’t and if he was he didn’t know him. odinkalu said Err actually that is an ” inaccuracy” your lordship; you know him, we were in the same set! Nigerian Law school sometimes has a thousand students in any given year, in those days of one campus, so it’s highly probable that they didn’t know each other, but someone has attested thar they infact did know each other. Incidentally Fashola, Akpabio were also in that set, and they didn’t know each other then. Unless Odinkalu is lying and he has an impeccable reputation unless of course you know something we don’t know
  - persona
    
    As much as I buy the argument, in a class of over 1k, the remote chance of “knowing” or “Remembering” everyone is remote. As Metuh became a public figure, Abang may have had a “knowing” or “recollection” and so Abang may have wanted to maintain his posture that it was a large class. My concern is that Metuh met Abang and before the case, Abang already had a “position” that Metuh felt uncomfortable with and that is the koko of the matter. Abang’s posture could be anti-corruption and Metuh is not comfortable with that as he should already get a pandering from his classmate.
    For the sake of fair hearing, Abang should step down and they should get a non 1988 judge abeg so story no go long again.
    - Onike24
      
      Speaking from personal experience there are people who I have met that were actually my set at the law school, and I have no recollection of meeting them at law school, nor can can remember meeting me, so I completely see how that can happen. But my fear is that Metuh just wants to hide under this excuse, why is he just bringing it up now? My view is that the Judge should continue and conclude the trial, Metuh can appeal from his prison cell.
      - whales1212
        
        This claim being circulated that he had met the judge twice,do you think that judge’s response was fine by saying he wasn’t aware they were classmate? I’m asking as a lay man,I don’t know the technicalities of the law,I just feel there wasn’t any need for him to have said that?
      - Onike24
        
        To be honest a law degree does not make one smarter! We are all confused! The Judge may or may not have lied, perhaps he has a bad memory and forgets people easily! This one pass me O!
  - Deen Tee
    
    Wetin concern Odinkalu out of this matter? Na im dey stand trial abi na im be Metuh’s lawyer? Is trying to make sure criminals go free part of his former Human Rights Commission’s job? This man must have been made the Chairman human rice and beans commission to enable him also go with his own loot. Ewu
    - Onike24
      
      Who is the goat now? Me or Odinkalu or both of us. We are so used to people looking away when lies are told, what is his crime if he spoke the truth. Why keep quite when you know someone is lying?
  - pheliciti
    
    Judge never said he wasn’t classmates with Metuh. He said he wasn’t aware which is entirely plausible.
    - Onike24
      
      Yes, and I even corroborated this, with my ten kobo experience, but when no less a personality than Odinkalu is saying that it’s factually inaccurate what does one think? My take on it, is that we have become accustomed to brazen lies, it’s the way we now operate.
      - pheliciti
        
        It’s painful when respected news channels spread lies like this. They gnaw slowly at the foundations of society and they’d be the first to scream with headlines when everything collapses.
- Otile
  
  It seems tribalism in an incurable cancer eating you up. Deal with it.
Mutalib

I thought Mr Metuh said he could only explain what GEJ paid him for when he is being charged to court not to EFCC. Let him just defend himself. It is even the prosecutor that ought to have made this assertion not the defendant on ethical ground since his friend could favour him.
- share Idea
  
  He has done that and requested EFCC to call GEJ as witness to refute that he paid him. For the source fund that was paid Metuh, EFCC needs to get the answer from GEJ and have been running away from obvious fact – that this case can’t be concluded without inviting GEJ to explain his role.
  
  It is a pity that Buhari did not think his action through before rushing to investigate security vote usage. We’re waiting to see how this drama will end.
  - persona
    
    As much as the case is funny, don’t twist the facts. Metuh said GEJ should be on the stands for cross examination and not that he should show evidence of payment. EFCC already have traced the funds from ONSA, they have seen how the funds were converted to USD and how he failed to declare funds more than he is allowed to keep according to the law that Metuh also studied. The crux of the matter is, Metuh does not have a letter of award for the said contract and that is why EFCC said GEJ does not need to be on the stand because if Metuh is a contractor for ONSA, he must have a letter of award. GEJ will not provide that and that is why Metuh now feels that he will likely not get away with it after his no case submission was thrown out. The case is open, but don’t twist the facts to favor any of the actors. If the MD of an organization says you should be awarded a contract and you execute same and don’t have a letter of award, the company has every right not to pay you. Metuh got paid, his error was he banked that because Buhari had said GEJ had nothing to fear, he could name drop GEJ and be let go. Another angle is this: If GEJ contracted Metuh personally, should FG’s money be used to pay him? EFCC have rights to disregard Metuh’s argument because he may be telling a lie and GEJ is not their client either. They have the evidence and they need Metuh to focus on that as evidence or the lack thereof is what makes a case or breaks it. As regards the judge, I suppose he should just step down and let another handle it so that Metuh will have his fair hearing.
    - share Idea
      
      I would not have bothered to reply your comment but for the benefit of others who would be deceived by you your half truth.
      
      EFCC never proved beyond reasonable doubt that office of the NSA paid Metuh rather they claimed that office of NSA transferred money to a Company account own by Metuh. However, a new twist was introduced as the trial judge rule that EFCC have established that Metuh have a case to answer because according to him one of the PW (prosecution Witness) had testified that GEJ’S CSO paid the money into Metuh’s account. Hence, another version of the story.
      
      Did office of NSA pay Metuh through GEJ’s CSO? If yes, does Metuh have any question to answer if he had consistently said that he did a job for GEJ and he was paid. In a criminal matter of this nature, the prosecution team will need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Metuh actually committed the criminal offence and the star witness in this case is GEJ. If Buhari is afraid to call GEJ for questioning, he might aswell allow others to be. We the citizens are equal before the law. When GEJ was prosecuting fuel subsidy abusers, he did not say, I will not prosecute the sons of ex PDP chairmen but he allowed everyone that was involved to be investigated and possibly charged.
      - persona
        
        You seem to have gotten it all wrong. The GEJ’s ADC angle was another payment or why did he get bails leading to almost 1B Naira? EFCC is at liberty to pursue the case they way they deem fit and if the bungle it, then they are sill for not putting their best foot forward on the case. Buhari out of courtesy made the statement, recall the statement was “he need not fear anything BUT those who have done wrong, need to account for their atrocities”. In due time, if need be, he may be called. I also feel that PDP as a party have no regard for the former president, they have chose not to even protect him; Dasuki; Metuh, ADC etc all keep pointing at him. If you say I made half truths, please put forward what half that is not true then. Also, EFCC made available evidence of the payment from ONSA and did show the money was paid into his account. Metuh in fairness has not said the payments didn’t come from the ONSA account, he didn’t say, he didn’t disclose details of the transactions as required by law at the bank level. He has a right to pursue his no submission case also but these are just legal angles and no half truths.
      - share Idea
        
        Please can you educate us on the other charges Metuh is currently facing in court. Official charges are two – case of 400M naira alleged to have been transferred to his account from office of NSA and secondly that Metuh attempted to destroy his written evidence at EFCC custody.
        
        My Gee the half-truth in what you said is that money was from office of NSA to some individuals account (under the name of security Vote which APC is propagating as arm’s fund meant for fighting BH). However, the dilemma Buhari has is that he allowed his vindictiveness to override his sense of judgement.
        
        Now, he is in a fix on how to proof a case of transfer of security vote from ONSA to anybody’s account constitute a criminal offence when we all know that they have not been any defined law on how to use security vote. Secondly, considering that non of the ex-president have been investigated in Nigeria for use of security vote, it will be grave for the administration to delve into such at the moment in the country considering all the past president have also committed far more grievous crime and nobody have called them to account for their stewardship . If Buhari is ready and willing to go the whole hug, I will be one of his fans but not this selective probing of PDP and protecting of APC members ( please can you ask Buhari to inform us how he financed his campaign?)
  - Deen Tee
    
    GEJ should be Metuh’s witness and not EFCC’s witness. Let Metuh call his witnesses to include GEJ. Lo ba tan.
  - pheliciti
    
    Are you suggesting that Buhari shd not have investigating these cases of theft? Are you one of them?
Excisionist

What is Metu’s crime. His company executed a contract and was paid for it. Is this a crime? No, the crime seems to be that he did not ask the contract awardee for the source of the fund? Is this a crime? How many companies in Nigeria or indeed all over the world ask for the source of fund for their contracts?

Before joining the band wagon people should make use of their thinking faculty and not allow it to be diluted by people with nomadic education.

Metu should not be standing trial at all. He should be compensated for the humiliation he has suffered in the hands of Buhari administration
- Mamman
  
  He benefitted from the proceeds of crime. And he can’t claim ignorance as a lawyer because he,more than any one else,knows that ignorance of the law is never an excuse to break it.
  - Excisionist
    
    You still have not answered the question.
    
    What is Metu’s crime. His company executed a contract and was paid for it. Is this a crime? No, the crime seems to be that he did not ask the contract awardee for the source of the fund? Is this a crime? How many companies in Nigeria or indeed all over the world ask for the source of fund for their contracts?
    - ceecee
      
      If contract is awarded to your company, definitely you must have papers to support that. Methu should simply show the court all the papers regarding that contract. It’s very simple to do.
      - persona
        
        How then is Metuh different from a ghost worker?
        The man claims to have executed a contract, he wont disclose what was done, he will not show contract papers, he laundered money from the said contract over and above the statutory amount and yet he claims to be a lawyer.
        You wonder why our youths are easily deceived by the same politicians depriving them of their jobs, infrastructure, healthcare etc.
      - Deen Tee
        
        Metuh might not have committed a crime, let’s agree the way you view it. EFCC did not just arrest and request for Metuh to be prosecuted. It is from Dasuki’s revelation that Metuh’s name arose. Agreed, Metuh did not know where the money came from. Did his company actually carry out any job on behalf of FGN? Or did his company just collect money for job not specified and also not done.
      - ceecee
        
        You can’t possibly tell me that a contract of 400 million naira has no paper to back it up. How much tax did a company that received 400 million naira pay to the government? Stop defending corruption Mr Man.
- bjay
  
  Keep quiet you zionist what do know about law.
SAM .A

This is a typical example of how unrighteous our elites have become , this man just carry that OSUKA on his head and lie in his court every day. Does he know what they call conflict of interest, whether u use it positively to influence justice ,or negatively to extract your pound of flesh , the man should recluse himself . You denied your classmate of 1988, you met in two previous reunion meeting , u had many photographs together , yet you have temerity to tell whole Nigeria , you have never met him . Mr Okon Abang what do u tell your children at home ? Why are u doing this to yourself ?Shameless adult.
Ikechi Ngwube

And so what? What had this non issue got to do with Olisa Metuh’s criminality! Where is it written that your classmate can never ever give you justice? Is Olisa Metuh just realizing that Justice Abang is his classmate that he is desperately trying to shift the goalpost in the middle of a football match? You guys should stop this silly mendacious ness. It is really baffling!
- bjay
  
  Thank you
  - Justice
    
    Thank you for that rubbish? Pls read @Genusa above. Maybe you will get something other than this trash.
- Scatter
  
  Unless my classmate and I had a fall-out, assuming we know each other, I would think one stands a good chance of getting justice if appearing before such a person. Unless, of course, I fear the judge knows something about me that may reinforce the allegation of dishonesty. Metuh’s objection on this score is curious, to say the least. It should be the prosecution that should be objecting, not the defence. I really fail to see the point Chidi Odinkalu is making.
  - Femi Pedro
    
    Well said
  - sab
    
    Scatter, to what extent do you know the law? Agreed being classmates can give you soft-landing in situations like this, but what happens if you have a feeling of the opposite with evidence? This same judge handed out a hefty N400m bail condition to Metuh for an alleged offense of N400m. He also asked two sureties to pay same N400m each before Metuh’s bail could be effected. Recall also that another judge granted Dasuki N250m bail for an alleged $2.1billion dollar offense. Even if Metuh is a dunce, won’t he notice he’s dancing with a cobra? Abang has given him cause to fear and that fear he’s expressing now and you want him to dance himself into fire. God save this country.
    - whales1212
      
      Are you a lawyer yourself?
    - Sparzo
      
      Only the cheerers for corruption and impunity in Nigeria will deny the reasons
      for different terms of bail and conditions for Dasuki and Metuth
      
      Dasuki has admitted his guilt and is co operating fully with the authorities.
      hence authorities were able to call on the metuths 0and badehs to account.
      
      Metihuh on the other hand insists that the money was earned legitimately.
      He says he will never return the money,
      He refused to co operate one bit and tried to destroy evidence,
      It is the terms the prosecution asked for and it is what the judge agreed is appropriate under the circumstances.
      
      I think the judge made a mistake of granting that slimeball bail at all.
      Minding that metuh is also facing the more serious charge of attempting to destroy evidence.
    - Deen Tee
      
      If this is the kind of law that is read and practiced in Nigeria, I now understand why a case meant to be determined within 3 to 4 months takes decades and at the end of the day nothing comes out of it. That kind of law should be scrapped. When Metuh and others went to the Law School, was it “you rub my back, I rub your back” they went to inculcate in them?
    - Scatter
      
      Consider me to be a legal illiterate, if that’s OK with you. Let’s just examine if your arguments add up. It’s not enough to fear one won’t get justice from a judge without good cause or evidence of bias. Otherwise any person can just about say he/ she won’t get justice from any judge, and so shouldn’t stand trial or submit to adjudication.
      
      On the basis of the media reports of the proceedings, Metuh has not demonstrated the cause or basis of his fears other than that they were classmates at Law School, which you yourself agree may ordinarily be an advantage. Here is a man who allegedly made a statement to investigators, then tried to destroy the evidence, for which he is facing separate charge. Given what has been reported of the case thus far, it’s hard to resist the view that Metuh is simply dramatising things up to muddy the waters in an effort to evade justice or discredit the process.
      
      That Justice Abang imposed stiff conditions for Metuh’s bail is not in itself evidence of bias. It may well reflect the judge’s assessment of the risk in granting bail to Metuh, the aim of which is to ensure Metuh submits himself for trial while on bail. Once the conditions are met, Metuh gets his bail, which he did.
      
      Now, what happens in another trial court over bail of an even more serious allegation has no bearing to Metuh’s case because the facts of the two cases and the people involved are different.
      
      I would have queried Justice Abang’s bail conditions for Metuh if he were more lenient to another defendant on the same charges as Metuh in the same court — assuming that that defendant is also facing charges of attempting to destroy evidence.
      
      However, assuming you are right that Justice Abang required two sureties to post a bail bond of N400m each when the total sum Metuh is being accused of obtaining corruptly is N400m, I certainly would think that to be harsh but not necessarily evidence of bias or hostility to Metuh. Like I said, we don’t know all the reasons that made Justice Abang to impose the stiff conditions he did.
- sab
  
  Ikechi Ngwube, there is nothing wrong in my classmate presiding over my case as judge. But when there is evidence he could be biased against me for whatever reasons, I won’t hesitate to take a deeper look into the law books. Metuh did not initially object to Abang handling this case. But when Abang handed a bail of N400m and two others in same N400m for an offense of N400m while Dasuki that is standing trial for $2.1billionUSDollars was asked to pay N250m for bail, please, let’s put sentiments aside, does this not tell you something? May be if Abang can have his way, he can set Dasuki free and sentence Metuh to death or life imprisonment. And you expect Metuh to keep quiet.
Genusa

Metuh said when he met Abang at a function in Akwaibom and they chatted, that the judge appear to have a certain view which Metu feel will affect the judgement of the case. Remember, it is this judge that gave Metu a bail condition of 400million for a 400million case, plus two sureties in like sum that must have landed property only in Maitama area of Abuja, whereas Dasuki the principal person in Dasukigate, in another court got 250million bail for 2.1billion dollar case. Metu could not meet his bail conditions until they plead to Abang to reduce the condition. Abang only removed the part that said sureties must have landed property in Maitama, to include all parts of Abuja. You see, may be they knew each other way back, and may be Abang doesn’t like Metu that much. You can be classmate with someone and it can be someone that doesn’t like anything about you. Besides, Metu is not asking for a particular Judge, he only asked for ANY OTHER JUDGE, that is not Abang. So it is not as if he is trying to avoid court process. I think it is fair enough considering that it is within Metu’s right to ask for another Judge if he feel the judge will be biased. Metu wants just any other judge that is not Abang. And Nigeria has many federal high court judges.
- DON
  
  Is obvious Justice Abang has scores to settle with Metuh.
  - Burbank
    
    Is obvious Metuh is guilty already.
- whales1212
  
  Can I ask you a question please, why didn’t metuh talk about all this at the beginning? It was the same judge,wasn’t it? Is there any law that citizens can’t appear before a judge if they were classmates.
  - Höly Wähala
    
    Don’t be silly, he submitted valid grounds in law and you’re there talking trash about Metuh not complaining about Abang in the beginning… he has the right to complain whenever he deems right and now that other students have corroboated his reasons, that Eteh justice should excuse himself as required by the law. Shikena.
    - whales1212
      
      I don’t have problem with that as long as justice is served ok.
      - Burbank
        
        Amen
  - Otile
    
    To tell you the truth, Metuh tactically allowed Abang to go ahead and damage his own career as a judge. Any other place beside Nigeria Abang would be quitting the bench after this toxic case. Ask any good lawyer they will tell you why.
    - Sparzo
      
      You are lying again.
      It is only in Nigeria that he would be hounded out of court by 69+ SANs.
      No genuine or self respecting court or/and judiciary would even entertain such frivolity or such disrespect for their integrity and independence..
      That was why the british courts convicted Ibori in less than a year.
      Nigerian courts could not in 9yrs and 27 charges. Technicalities U see?
      
      See what happens when Diezani goes to court in the city of London.
      - whales1212
        
        The question really is about which of these judges should be trusted, who is telling the truth?
      - Sparzo
        
        Don’t be silly.
        It is not a question for any genuine or self respecting court,
        Only for a joke, nollywood, Nigerian or gaga court and judiciary.
      - whales1212
        
        What has being silly got to do with expressing a concern, you don’t need that please.
      - Sparzo
        
        The whole thing is just so ridiculous and frivolous that it is silly to take it as an issue here.
        Didn’t mean to be petty myself,
    - whales1212
      
      That means he lied by saying he wasn’t aware they went to same school? Gracious Lord! Hmm
      - Otile
        
        If he was not sure, knowing what is at stake he would take time to find out. Each year the names of every graduate is published. Abang cannot flippantly dismiss such a thing by saying he is not aware that is irresponsible. Ignorance is no excuse, especially a judge for that matter. What kind of law are these people practicing in Nigeria in the first place?
      - whales1212
        
        I know you’re a good defender of looters if I still remember you very well,I’m sorry if it’s not you,but I don’t know why a judge needs to lie if truly they’ve met and he knows they attended the same class,attending same class doesn’t mean anything, I’m more concerned about the lie,giving the case to another judge isn’t abang to decide though. There no reason to deny knowing him and I don’t understand if such law exists in Nigeria.
      - Otile
        
        It will be pointless for you and I to be arguing whether Judge was lying, being disingenuous, unprofessional or negligent, leave that for the experts to decide.
      - Burbank
        
        “…leave that for the experts to decide.”
        
        Not for racist bigots like you.
      - Burbank
        
        “What kind of law are these people practicing in Nigeria in the first place?”
        
        The laws of the land.
      - Otile
        
        Zoo comrade
      - Burbank
        
        Tell that to Nnamdi Kanu!
  - sab
    
    Whales1212, You are still getting this thing wrong. Or may be you are standing on the biased side, I’m sorry because I don’t intend to slight because it is not part of me. Check my previous posts. The issue here is not whether they were classmates or not. Let’s get these things right. If it was the issue of classmates, he would have raised the objection early on. But he said it was because of what happened between them last year. Again, if Abang could grant him bail of N400m and two sureties in similar amount for an offense of N400m, what else do you think such a judge will do when the actual trial starts? Please, if Dasuki that is standing trial for $2.1billion case could be granted bail in the sum of N250million, why ask Metuh to pay N400m and two other sureties in same N400m for bail? Is there any fairness in this? Tell me, if it were you, what would you do?
    - whales1212
      
      How much was badeh bail condition? I don’t think anyone can determine how much his bail condition should be, your argument amount to comparing one alleged thief to another to see who got a better deal. I think the whole judiciary is a sham,in a saner world, you don’t come up with every tricks to block being prosecuted because the law doesn’t give room for that,you can appeal your conviction thereafter, but all this delay tactics is irresponsible. I think I’ll be glad to get it done quickly if I’m innocent than all this gamesmanship, unfortunately, it is our money that was looted and we also have to debate their prosecution to be or no to be. What a sad country!
      - Genusa
        
        See, You can watch someone’s body language to see where he is going until you reach your conclusion that the person will be biased. Justice Abang is not the only justice Nigeria has that will handle EFCC cases. Let another take over. Metu did not ask for a particular judge before you think he wants to maneuver. Any other judge other than Abang will do. Thats what Metu asked for. Unless you say Abang is the only person that can handle EFCC cases. Then I rest my argument.
      - Burbank
        
        “I have a circular written by my employer (the Federal High Court) stating that where there is a
        petition seeking transfer of case, the judge handling the matter should CONTINUE to preside over the matter until the honourable Chief Judge
        takes a decision on the matter”.
        Justice Abang
  - Genusa
    
    You can watch someone’s body language to see where he is going until you reach your conclusion that the person will be biased. Justice Abang is not the only justice Nigeria has that will handle EFCC cases. Let another take over. Metu did not ask for a particular judge before you think he wants to maneuver. Any other judge other than Abang will do. Thats what Metu asked for. Unless you say Abang is the only person that can handle EFCC cases. Then I rest my argument.
    - Burbank
      
      And Metuh suddenly REMEMBERED they were classmates after all cross-examiniations were over and most witnesses were already cross-examined and presented!
      - Genusa
        
        Is Abang the only Judge in our federal high courts? It is within an accused right to ask for a judge to hands off. Metu did not ask for a particular judge. He wants just any other judge that is not Abang. Thats fair enough.
      - Burbank
        
        Any judge that he can bribed.
      - dudu
        
        Oshe!
  - Burbank
    
    And who ate those EFCC documents?
- Nwa_Africa
  
  Must he know all his classmate since 1988? Metuh did not raise this until he secured his bail……………………So why now?
clairvoyance

They were classmates yes does that invalidate the criminal charges against him? No. So Metuh should open his defence and stop all this shenanigans.
- sab
  
  Clairvoyance, it is absolutely wrong for one to clap with one hand and dance with one leg especially in matters concerning the law. Let’s look at this issue objectively. Metuh has not said he was not going to face trial. He has not argued whether Abang knows him as classmate or not. What he did was to raise a point that bothers on his getting justice. Aside whether being classmate or not, he said he has had an encounter with Abang just last year. It was on the strength of that encounter that he is now doubting the sincerity of the judge in handling the case. Let’s get these things right. Aside being classmates or not, the question is: did they meet last year? Where? What really transpired? These are essential aspects that can help determine whether both lawyers knew each other before or not. Again, let me ask you: Would you love your enemy to preside over a case that has the potential of determining your life? If you are Metuh’s shoes, would you keep quiet and just accept whatever fate throws up on you in situation like this? Mind you, I’m not supporting criminality in any shape or form. Whoever that dipped hands into our common wealth should be made to account for it. But what I stand for is fairness and fair hearing. Let the law take it’s cause. But for people to accuse, judge and sentence fellow people to death or jail on the pages of newspapers or social media without caution is not fair. What if such people swim out of the case, will you be glad to exchange greetings with him on the road? If such a person is your relation, what will be your reaction when he has been stripped naked and bare on newspapers and social media?
  - Burbank
    
    “What he did was to raise a point that bothers on his getting justice.”
    
    He did NOT raised the issue at the beginning of his trial, but only after most of the witnesses had been called and counsels had presented their cross-exmainations.
    
    It is only when the judge did not favour him did Metuh SUDDENLY remembered that they were classmates!
McAlfred Uta

If Abang can deny his classmate, he should not only be excused from Metuh case, but his mental alertness should be crosschecked just to make sure that his cognitive ability has not been impaired. How can one forget his classmates except for medical reasons. I still remember my primary, secondary, post secondary (A/Level), University and Postgraduate (Masters) classmates just like yesterday including the dead ones. Let no excuses exist to put the outcome of the trial in doubt.
- Factsay
  
  lol
Factsay

That judge get k-leg.
The bail condition he gave was very suspicious
Ed

Nigeria is gradually turning into a place where everyone comfortably tell lies at wish, there is no how the justice abang will know be aware if olise metu was his classmate at law school or not. why would a man of that status comfortably be lying in a very simple matter like this, now tell me what will happen is the matter is a bogus one.honestly i weep for my country, a country where old men lie at will and they expect the youths to be obedient and well behaved.
wazobia scatter!!!!!!

hope it doesn’t reassigned to ibrahim buba,the “option of fine” expert …………………….
- Burbank
  
  Hope it be reassigned to Justice Bilkisu Bello Aliyu of the Adamawa Federal High Court, who jailed for 10 years the former
  Commissioner of Local Government Affairs John Elias, with hard labour.
9JA IS DYING DEAD UNDER BUHARI

Rivers Re-run: Buhari has destroyed GEJ’s legacy of free,fair elections — Fayose

The governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has condemned report of violence and malpractices in the Rivers state re-run elections.

Fayose blamed President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling, All Progressives Congress, APC, Fayose, via his Twitter handle, said that, ‘the open display of contempt for free, fair and transparent election by APC in Rivers is capable of setting Nigeria on the path of anarchy’, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC under Buhari has destroyed the legacy of free, fair and transparent elections bequeathed on Nigeria by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigeria is now the lying machine of Africa under the Satanic government of Buhari–ati the Apes in APC.
- Burbank
  
  Irrelevant
  Topic is on Metuh-Abang relationship.
new republic

This is to tell Nigérians that been my classmate,is not an excuse to commit crime and ABBANG will jail Metuh.
- Excisionist
  
  What is Metu’s crime. His company executed a contract and was paid for it. Is this a crime? No, the crime seems to be that he did not ask the contract awardee for the source of the fund? Is this a crime? How many companies in Nigeria or indeed all over the world ask for the source of fund for their contracts?
  
  Before joining the band wagon people should make use of their thinking faculty and not allow it to be diluted by people with nomadic education.
  
  Metu should not be standing trial at all. He should be compensated for the humiliation he has suffered in the hands of Buhari administration..
  - Fadama
    
    You have advised readers to make use of common sense yet, your comment significantly lacked common sense
  - Owenz
    
    Really? If he know he has no case to answer, let him prove it in court. Trying to avoid trial is what Metuh has been busy with. Period.
Action Group

Since an element of bias has been raised, the judge will hand off the case on the advice of the Chief Judge of FHC and the case will be reassigned to another judge. Metuh is just delaying his evil day there is no amount of delay that will exonerate him.The people blaming Justice Abang should ask for forgiveness,because Justice Abang has not said he wouldn’t hand over the case file but that he would do so on the advice of the CJ of FHC.Chidi Odinkalu and his ilks are still bittered about the sack handed over to them by PMB and their pendulum can shift to their classmate now.Does Chidi know all their classmates in Class ’88?
- sab
  
  Let’s be realistic in this issue. Can’t we eschew tribal, political and religious sentiment for once and tell ourselves simple truth? For those of you who are or claim to be lawyers, let me ask: when there is element of doubt in law, what happens? What is the place of precedence in law? I mean, what happened when IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu objected to a particular judge handling his case for fear he may not get fair hearing? What did the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court do later? It’s a shame that people just want to twist the arm of the law or its process because they hate the face of a particular person either because of tribe, religion or political affiliation. In law, I thought it is assumed an accused is innocent until proven otherwise by the court. Yet, all of you have already found Metuh and others guilty even before trial. In law, you might be guilty yet set free because of the technicalities of the law. You may have a good case yet lose it because of filing and argument power or even evidence factors. Let us toe the path of reason and not hate agenda because ‘what goes around must surely come around’.
  - whales1212
    
    Though I got your point,but I can tell you that you’re really getting better at defending criminals, just like your other guy on here,kudos to you. I just pray nemesis won’t catch up with you.
  - I Hate Sycophant Truly
    
    That of Nnamdi Kanu was possible because the prosecutor counsel has not opened defence. In Metuh’s case, all witnesses have been called upon to make witness and for his defence lawyer to argue or make cross examination, he’s now trying to be clever by half. His own case is over 70% done while that of Kanu has not started. Changing of Judge between case is not allowed, that was part of thing that affected Peterside case when it gets to supreme court when the Justices said, Wike was not given fair hearing because of change of Judge in-between his case. All we need doing is to keep tab and hear where it lands.
    But every saner minds know that Metuh must have tried all he could to win Justice Abang to his side but he failed, that’s why he now come with the gimmicks that Abang is his mate. The question you need to ask him is, he didn’t know from onset that Abang was his classmate before defence was opened?
David Adeniran

This is a completely rubbish allegation. I was called to Bar in December 1993. Did that make me to know all the students in my set? Absolutely NO!!! Infact this part of the allegation should be discountenaced as a matter of common sense. You are only sure of knowing virtually all the students that came from you University! Aside of that it is not likely that know everybody in your set at the Law School form came from other Universities.
- Iskacountryman
  
  you would make a poor lawyer…the judge’s language was guarded…the judge did NOT say metuh was not his classmate…he stated …that ‘he is not aware’, in other words, he might have forgotten…giving himself room to dribble…
  - David Adeniran
    
    You are the one lacking simple understanding. That statement from the Judge is only supporting my position! That is: “I am not aware”. Please go for adult class in English language.
    - Iskacountryman
      
      i am not aware of the existence of adult classes for the english language…
- Abe Lawrence
  
  Law is about commonsense, commonsense which is not common. I agree with you David on your view. We shouldn’t turn our beautiful law to an ass at the reckless bidding of these mischievous politicians. The Law school of Metuh’s day was a centralized one that could have made it possible for a classmate not to know his fellow classmate. Even if they were classmate, it doesn’t connote they might have any relationship between them that would induce any influence. The rule is straight forward, thus the element necessary is relationship + influence. Thus being a classmate of someone might not give you the two privileges ( relationship and influence ). So the point Metuh raised cannot hold water.
peaceometer

And then?
Femi Pedro

My gut feeling is they have tried severally to bribe this judge and he is unyielding hence this shenigans of classmates. I’m sure Metuh knew this information before hand but only chose to make it a point of law now that he had found the judge cannot be compromised
- Otile
  
  As you said, this is your own gut feeling; it can’t stand in court.
  - Burbank
    
    The court is under justice Abang.
    - Otile
      
      Etubom Abang cannot always impose his biased judgements on defendants all the time. Some will challenge him in his own court and win too. Try to know something about common law.
      - Burbank
        
        So a judgement is biased if it is not in your favour!
      - Otile
        
        Stupid_conclusion.
      - Burbank
        
        That’s what Judge Abang told Metuh.
  - Femi Pedro
    
    Not time for trolls
Paul Graham

What has that got to do with his ability to dispense justice? If Ricky Tarfa believes his relationship with judges dont matter why should Metuh have sleepless nights unless he can prove he had a sour relationship with the Judge in the past!
- Otile
  
  If you were a lawyer or know something about good professional ethics you would not write this comment of yours in public.
  - Paul Graham
    
    I am not a lawyer and dont have to be one to express an opinion. Members of juries all over the world are none lawyers but rely only on facts before them to pass judgement. Metuh in this case is alleging the possibility of bias against the Judge without proof. Why did he not raise the argument prior to his motion for dismissal of charges against him only to raise the issue when judgement was against him?
    - Otile
      
      It is true that members of the jury are non lawyers, mind also that they are given guidelines, they can’t come there to say something off the wall in the name of expressing their opinion. That will not fly.
      - Paul Graham
        
        I believe i made it clear that they deal with cases based on facts before them. The guidelines given to them by the Judge are the rules of the Court and issues to be addressed!
      - Otile
        
        What is your point then?
      - Paul Graham
        
        My point is that being classmates has nothing to do with the case. The Judge will look at the evidence and facts before him and if he rules against Metuh, he has a right of appeal. Raising the issue of bias without proof could be construed as an attempt to prolong the trial or possibly truncate same!
      - Otile
        
        Never mind. You don’t understand.
      - Burbank
        
        We never mind racist bigots like you – we only just make your life lower.
      - Otile
        
        How many of you Yoruba tribalists are after one man? Sometimes 20 or more of you muster your best arguments to overcome one man, yet you all fail woefully. What does this tell you about the man you are trying in vain to subdue? You be the judge.
      - Burbank
        
        Justice Abang is the judge, not me. Racist bigot.
      - Otile
        
        If your case is assigned to a biased or incompetent, get him off your back any time you can. Metuh has the right to get Etubom Abang off his back except perhaps in corrupt one Nigeria.
      - Burbank
        
        “If your case is assigned to a biased or incompetent, get him off your back any time you can.”
        
        Before the case started, Metuh didnt know they were classmates!
      - Otile
        
        It is smart for Metuh to give him enough time and opportunity to destroy his own credibility, judgement and professionalism. Smart move, comrade, smart move.
      - Burbank
        
        So smart that he even eat paper!
      - Burbank
        
        So you admitted that Metuh lied about his relationship with Abang while the trial was in progress!
        Thanks.
      - Otile
        
        I wish you know what that word ‘lie’ means in legal terms you would not be banding it around carelessly.
      - Burbank
        
        So Metuh lied about his relationship while the trial was in progress!
      - Abe Lawrence
        
        Law is about commonsense, commonsense which is not common. I agree with Paul Graham on his view. We shouldn’t turn our beautiful to an ass at the reckless bidding of these mischievous politicians. The Law school of Metuh’s day was a centralized one that could have made it possible for a classmate not to know his fellow classmate. Even if they were classmate, it doesn’t connote they might have any relationship between them that would induce any influence. The rule is straight forward, thus the element necessary is relationship + influence. Thus being a classmate of someone might not give you the two privileges ( relationship and influence )
      - Otile
        
        False, law is not always about commonsense. Your commonsense many not be the same commonsense of dummy Julius given the same fact. Dummy Julius will definitely argue from his low level instincts while you as a more developed man will come up with superior and convincing argument. So, not everything people are rattling is law or commonsense.
      - Burbank
        
        “Law is not always about commonsense.”
        For you, nothing is common sense, bigot.
      - Otile
        
        Yes, a legal matter which is commonsense to Abe Lawrence will not be commonsense to you because you are operating at a your primordial instinct. In any arguement you will always attack Lawrence and I who are far more developed than you. For you incessant attack is your own commonsense.
      - Burbank
        
        A racist bigot like you is less developed than an amoeba with spina bifida!
    - Burbank
      
      good retorts.
Yusuf Ahmed

Finally, the truth is just coming up.
- Sparzo
  
  My point exactly.
  That olisa metuh did not receive N400M from dasuki.
  That money was not meant for arms procurement.
  That he did not claim that N400M was payment for a special assignment/errand for gej,
  That citizen have no right to know what this special assignment worth N400M.
  outside his regular job and wages as PDP spokes person.
  That Metuh never boasted that he will never return the money.
  
  That yusuf yellow’s lawyers should demand any judge but an Ijaw judge
  That ipob/egbesu should not be tried by Nigerians judges, as they might be prejudicial,
  A Yoruba by an Igbo judge or an Igbo by a fulani judge, echetram echetram.
  - Otile
    
    Among other things…that your reasoning is hollow… You do not reason like a lawyer.
    - Sparzo
      
      I am not a lawyer.
      We cannot all be crooks Otile. or lover/ apologist for crooks.
      - Otile
        
        Then don’t pretend to be an expert on something you know nothing about, lest you make an ass of yourself.
      - Sparzo
        
        That I am not a lawyer does not mean I do not know the law,
        or how it works or supposed to work. I just don;t earn my living by it.
        If you do, I have be no doubt you are an ambulance chaser.
        Nigerian lawyer in that cesspool of judicial system?
        Even the President said it. Tifia.
      - Burbank
        
        “lest you make an ass of yourself.”
        Like you always did, racist KKK bigot.
    - Burbank
      
      Bigots like you cannot reason, period.
Prince

It is very possible for Justice Abang not to have met Olisa Metus in Law school set of 88 cos the law school by then was centralised in Lagos with over 2000 students including law graduates from foreign universities. The system then was that students were divided into two clases A & B due to the limited capacity of the lecture theatre such that while stream A attends lectures in the morning from 8am till 1pm , stream B will come in from 2pm till 6pm. That was the system the school was run even uptill 1991 when l was admitted. I never saw of my university mates until during the revision/tutorial classes and some l met only at the Call to Bar in Dec 92..Such system only allow you to bond with your mates in the same stream.. Besides l cannot remember some of my class mates in university bcos we were about 250. How can Chidi proove that Abang hamet Metuh at some class reunion. This is ploy to delay the trial because the weight of evidence is so much that no court would set him free in the face of such uncontradicted evidence thus the defence knows that when they succeed with such a transfer, the prosecution will find it difficult to reassembled those witnesses as most them may receive death threats and when a man’s life is in danger he will either recant his previous testimony or leave the town. This was the same tactics employed by the defence of Al Mustapha and today he is a freeman cos Sgt Rogers was threatened with death and he changed his testimony after several appeals and allegation of bias against the judge.lndeed the judiciary including some senior lawyers are the real clogg in the wheel of progress on the fight against corruption. I hope the Chief Judge of the Fed High Court will not succumb to such antics of Metuh and his co travellers in his defence team
- item7
  
  Thank you for this incisive analysis.
- Burbank
  
  Very useful points.
Gbenga Adebola

Chidi Odinkalu has again exposed the shameless lying judge. How that man with no integrity made it to our judiciary is baffling. What a nation! Abang should quit the case honourably!
- JJ
  
  Hmmm, Metuh with a high level of integrity as the PDP spokesman. Trying every means to run away from justice. I’m sure the next we will hear will be the trial Judge live in the state as i do and i want the judge changed. What has attending the only law school in Nigeria at the same time got to do with your trial especially as the accused. You will expect this type of request from the prosecution at least an existing relationship is a ground for bias in favor of the parties with the relationship. What a joke.
Akinwande Kolawole

Mr. abang is working towards a predetermined end. He was conscripted by the Islamic and evil APC to twist the law upside down. His end has come.
- Burbank
  
  And PDP National Chairman is Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, the Boko Haram main sponsor.
ALBERT

Why are Nigerian politicians and pen robbers on trial always interested in ensuring the prolongation of their trial by all foul means instead of facing justice if they are not guilty as charged. Is the matter before the court for determination about list of Metuh`s classmates at the Law school or issues bordering on stealing from the Central Bank, money laundering and related matters. So under Nigerian jurisprudence, being a classmate is a condition and grounds from disqualifying a judge from handling a case? We should not allow these rogues to drag us into the realm of absurdity.Nigeria should re-introduce the preventive act whereby those accused of public stealing, money laundering, corruption should be held in detention until the end of their trial.
repost2

Justice Abang failed the credibility test of a judicial officer. He may be suspended or removed from office.

Every judicial officer must decide petitions in court on the basis of facts and law which he failed to do here.

He declared what he said was the law allowing him to continue hearing the case, without knowing the facts.

And since the facts were within his knowledge to resolve, his refusal to reach for it is sheer dishonesty in law.
- Burbank
  
  “Justice Abang failed the credibility test of a judicial officer.”
  
  Who did?
I Hate Sycophant Truly

From all these revelations, it has shown that Metuh must have tried all he could to prevail upon Justice Abang to get justice through the back door, he even claimed they met in Uyo. He must have spoken or begged him or him sent emissaries to Justice Abang but the man declined vehemently. His case did not start this month or two months ago, is it after the prosecutors have done with his defence against him, that he need to open his own defence that he now realise that Justice Abang was his classmate. From the onset he kept quiet thinking he will used him to floor the case but as God pass him, Justice Abang didn’t give in.
For those of you abusing Justice Abang, well God gave brain to be use well but many of you refused using it well. The more you guys support wrong thing, the more God disgrace you. You guys can only run but cannot hide, because the eyes of the Lord is everywhere.
- UOU
  
  If metuh ever approached him for bribery, this justice abang would have exposed it, longtime ago, he will not even wait for all these, so find another excuse abeg.
  - I Hate Sycophant
    
    Did you read my comment at all or just made deduction as your brain interpret it to you? To win someone’s heart is it only through bribery that can come? What of if he used people close to Justice Abang as emissaries or bring a joke when they met about an imaginary case as Samuel did to David in the Bible?
    Come to think of it, was it the only point I made in my comment. I said, Metuh did not just know that Justice Abang was his mate, since the day the case was assigned to him, he knew Justice Abang was his mate, till the prosecutors began defence of their case by bringing not less than 5 persons to be witnesses against him and the prosecutors closed their case, for him to come for defence of the witnesses, he now realised that Justice Abang was his mate. Even before this madness, he applied to quash the case, that all witnesses called made no mention of the N440m he already agreed he collected fro the office of NSA. Metuh is just being clever by half. Use the brain God gave you and be reasonable for once.
    - UOU
      
      That is the beef with your type, thinking for yourself even stupidly and still wanna think for others, and for such antecedents I will just ignore you, forthwith. so easy for you to make up the scene and story, the usual lies and propaganda, you people are killing this society, if this is what you are leaving for the generation ahead
pst peter Owoicho Ukangini

Na by force for Abang to try Metu ne? Make another judge try am chikena!
pheliciti

I weep for this country. .yet the same people will claim corruption is being fought on the pages of newspapers and no conviction. Lawyers appear before judges who were their classmate’s. It’s nothing strange. What is strange is why PT will make this a crusade. Why didn’t Metuh raise it until trial is 50% gone and knowing that a change of judge will mean commencing all over?
Alhajivinco

Why would the judge lie about it? Unless he has something to hide. But in any event, why should the fact of being classmates matter in the trial? If every judge were to recuse him/her-self from every trial because a former classmate was before the court, there would be no judges to try cases. What we expect of our judges is integrity, independence, impartiality, uprightness and fairness regardless of who the litigants before the court are. Of course we expect a judge to give up a case if the qualities outlined above are bound or likely to be affected by the nature of the case or the identity of the litigant or party.
sambo ibrahim

Most of our judges in this country have allowed themselves to be compromised by the ruling government. I’m surprised that a man of such caliber as Justice Abang would allow his integrity be bought with little change. If Metuh sees Abang as a threat or been incompetent of handling his case, he should be given the right to change the justice. I have heard a lot about irregularities been conducted by Abang.
- New Nigerian
  
  A defendant do not get to decide who the judge in his case should be!
Oduche Azih

As I check my memory, I am assailed by the notion that Engr Ajulu Uzodike and Prof Segun Aderibigbe are NOT my classmates in an engineering class at Unilag. Perhaps someone can help me out to put this issue to rest.
Paul Graham

AND SO WHAT!
Adeniyi Jelili Adediran

Hen en, who was Metuh in 1988? Was it Justice Abang’s design to be in the same class with Metuh? Had there been any Judge who gotvno classmates? Did Justice Abang ever think then that Metuh would be brought to the Court where he presides? Shouldn’t be the Prosecution lawyer to even raise such objection? Shouldn’t that be an “advantage” to Metuh? It’s now clear that, these looters will always do everything to delay or even stop justice.
Abubakar musa

Nov,3 1988, Nigerians were happy because the law school produce more lawyers that will fight depend their right but today, Nigerians are regreting and crying out that the school produce great looters and nation vandalisers.Shame on unpatriotic.