N400m fraud: Court fixes June 19 for ruling on Metuh’s application for adjournment

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 19 to rule on an application filed by Olisah Metuh, former Spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) for adjournment of his trial.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Justice Okon Abang said that although the court on March 22 fixed May 2 to deliver the ruling, it was not ready.

“The matter was adjourned for ruling today, but due to the work load of the court, the ruling is not ready.

“I handled cases in Abuja, Asaba and Lagos Divisions of the court and I have several other judgments and rulings to deliver.”

Metuh who is standing trial on a seven -count charge bordering on allegations of fraud, wants the court to suspend the trial pending the decision of the Supreme Court on his no-case submission appeal.

He had filed an application in the Supreme Court, appealing the decisions of the trial and appeal courts, both which had dismissed his no-case submission.

Counsel to Metuh, Mr Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), moving the application, had noted that the adjournment was in order to await the ruling of the Supreme Court.

He said the Supreme Court had started hearing the appeal and would deliver ruling on June 9.

Ikpeazu submitted that since the Supreme Court had already started hearing the appeal, the lower court could not share jurisdiction on the same matter with the Supreme Court.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, had however, opposed the application on grounds that it was a ploy to waste the time of the court.

“We vehemently oppose this application praying for an order to adjourn further proceedings to await the ruling of the application in the Supreme Court which will come in the distant future.”

Tahir maintained that the application had no accommodation in law, since it was amorphous and an attempt to draw the case back.

It was reported that Metuh is on trial over alleged N400m money laundering charges; money he allegedly collected from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.