Metuh’s Trial: Jonathan Fails To Appear In Court

Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has failed to appear before Justice Okon Abang Wednesday.

The court which begins sitting in the case of money laundering between Nigeria’s Federal Government and the former National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh had wanted the former President to appear as a witness.

Metuh had had a running battle with the law over a money laundry case since his former ruling party failed to win the last presidential election.

The Federal High Court had earlier ordered Jonathan to appear before it Wednesday to testify in defence of Metuh but the former leader failed to appear.

The court however struck out the application filed by Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Retd), who wants the court to set aside the order compelling him to appear before it as a defence witness.

Meanwhile, Justice Abang in his ruling struck out the application saying that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the application and that Dasuki is not a party in the case before him.

According to the court, entertaining the application will amount to an invitation to judicial anarchy.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Court has informed the court that the bailiff is yet to serve the former President with the order of the court.

Metuh is facing trial for allegedly receiving N400 million out of the $2.1 billion dollars arms fund from the former National Security Adviser to Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Retd)

Counsel to Olisa Metuh, Onyechi Ikpeazu earlier told the court that he would subpoena Jonathan as his defence witness during a session at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan became an acting President while former President Umaru Yar’Adua took ill and later was sworn in as substantive President after Yar’Adua’s demise. He contested the 2010 election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and won but failed to win a reelection in the 2015 presidential election