Dasukigate: Metuh’s move to stall trial rejected again

The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, on Monday again attempted to throw another spanner in the wheel of justice at his ongoing trial before Justice E. O. Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a seven count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Metuh, who is being prosecuted alongside his company, Destra Investments Limited, for alleged N400 million fraud, had earlier on Friday met a brick wall in his attempt to stall his trial.
Metuh, on Friday, brought a new counsel, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), to represent his company, Destra Investment Limited.
The counsel had through an application sought for an adjournment to enable him formalize his appearance as he needed to be properly briefed by the former counsel, Emeka Etiaba (SAN).
Justice Abang, however, dismissed the application.
He said it was “not deserving” and adjourned to April 11, 2016 for the defence to open their case.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Onwugbufor again renewed his application for adjournment to enable him go through the previous proceedings in order to prepare for defence.
He said: “My application is based on the provisions of Section 36 (6) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which gives the defendant the right to fair hearing.
“My lord, we are incapacitated to continue with this trial unless we are given facilities and time to prepare for trial.”
Etiaba, the Counsel to the 1st defendant, also aligned himself with Onwugbufor’s submission, though he said the first defendant (Metuh) was ready with his witness to open his defence.
Responding, the counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, prayed the court to discountenance Onwugbufor’s application, adding that the notice is not formal and that there is no difference between the instant application and the one that had been decided on Friday.
Justice Abang, after listening to the submissions of both counsel, ordered the 1st defendant to open his defence.
The Defence Witness 1, Ik Abugu, a media consultant, in his testimony, told the court how he was contracted by Metuh to work with him to rebrand the PDP and the image of the then President Goodluck Jonathan.
Abugu further told the court that he attended a meeting with Metuh at the Presidential Villa where he made a presentation on the strategies for the rebranding of the party and Metuh was asked by the former President to supply his account details for payment.
Justice Abang thereafter adjourned to April 20, 2016 for further hearing.