A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ruled that it would no longer entertain any more adjournments at the instance of Olisa Metuh.
The former Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson is standing trial alongside Destra Investment on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N400million, which he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, in 2014 without justification.
Justice Okon Abang, in a terse ruling on Wednesday, expressed dissatisfaction that the court has had to adjourn severally at the instance of the defence. He was giving ruling on another application by Mr. Metuh’s counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, asking for an adjournment.
Mr. Ikpeazu, who was absent in court, had at the last sitting on June 20, applied for an adjournment, noting that he would not be in court for the sittings adjourned to June 21 and 22, 2017. He said he would be at another matter at the Federal High Court, Enugu on the dates.
He had cross-examined Samben Nwosu, the seventh defence witness, at the last sitting, and was to continue with the examination today.
Aside from the application, Mr. Ikpeazu, also sent in a letter, in which he prayed the court to “adjourn to any date other than June 26, 2017.”
Justice Abang, while noting that the prosecution had long closed its case on February 9, 2016 ruled that: “This matter has been adjourned severally, and the Supreme Court has ordered that the court where the matter is being tried should avoid unnecessary delay on the matter.”
The matter was however in the interest of justice adjourned to June 23, 2017 for continuation of trial.
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