BY Fredrick Nwabufo
Okon Abang, justice of the federal high court, Maitama, Abuja, has ruled that the trial of Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), must continue after one of his lawyers asked for an adjournment, owing to the absence of Onyechi Ikpeazu, the lead counsel of the defence.
After the case was called, Emeka Etiaba, one of Metuh’s lawyers, asked the court to adjourn the trial because the lead counsel was involved in another case at the supreme court, and as such would not be present to defend his client.
Tahir Sylvanus, the lead prosecution counsel, objected to the request for the adjournment of the trial, and urged the court to proceed with the case, arguing that Etiaba could hold brief for Ikpeazu.
After listening to the submissions of the counsel, the judge ruled that the trial must continue.
He held that since Ikpeazu, the lead counsel of the defence, had not written a letter notifying him of his absence, as required by law, the trial must continue.
On Tuesday, Abang had stood down the trial for an hour owing to the absence of Metuh in court.
He had said that he was working with a “time-frame” to finish the case.
Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Uba, an ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is in court observing the proceedings.
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