Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh is now on admission at the Lagos University Hospital (LUTH), Lagos two weeks after he left the National Hospital, Abuja where he was once on bed rest.
His lawyer, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) disclosed this Friday at the resumption of proceedings in Metuh’s trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Etiaba, who tendered a letter dated June 8, 2016 to support his position, said Metuh opted for LUTH after following his failure to secure the court’s nod to seek medical care abroad as was recommended by the National Hospital.
The letter from LUTH, signed for Consultant Neurosurgeon by Dr. Olufemi Bankole, said Metuh was under observation and management by the hospital and would need to be confined to bed rest for some time. The letter was silent on the duration of Metuh’s admission.
Metuh last attended proceedings on May 23 when his 4th witness, Anthony Okeke commenced giving evidence. He was to continue the following day, only for Etiaba to inform the court that his client was on admission at the National Hospital and was on bed rest. Although Justice Abang noted that the duration of his treatment was not indicated in a medical report issued by one Dr. O. O. Oyeleye, a Consultant Neurosurgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, which Metuh submitted to support his request for adjournment, the judge adjourned to May 30.
On Friday, Metuh was expected to resume his defence, but his lawyer to the court he was absent and was on admission in another hospital – LUTH. He tendered the letter from LUTH to support his claim, and urged the court to adjourn proceedings to a later date.
Prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir queried the procedure adopted by Metuh, who relocated from one hospital to another without the knowledge of the court.
“The last time we were here, this court was informed of the admission of the 1st defendant (Metuh) at the National Hospital, Abuja. I urged the court to take judicial notice of the fact that the 1st defendant is deemed to be on admission at the National Hospital. “If there is any case of referral for further evaluation of the 1st defendant, I would have thought that the hospital should have availed this court, out of courtesy, with a referral letter, showing the sequence of event, since the National Hospital earlier wrote this court about the admission of the 1st defendant.
“The instant letter seems to be coming from LUTH. That creates doubt in my mind as to whether the information contained in it is reliable. The letter also did not show as to when exactly the 1st defendant shall be discharged for him to return for his trial, because the letter said he is under observation and management for the next few weeks. “The court has no idea when the 1st defendant was discharged by the National Hospital. One would have expected that the 1st defendant would have availed himself the opportunity of attending to his health between the last time we were here and now. The same issue of health came up when last we were here.
“The letter is dated June 8. It is curious that on the eve of the resumption of the court’s business, another letter is written. The court being human being, like us, who are all mortals, we expect a demonstration of good faith such that will not give room for doubt. We most reluctantly concede to adjournment,” Tahir said.
Responding, Etiaba denied the impression that his client was playing pranks. He explained that Metuh was actually ill and needed medical attention. Etiaba said his client could not procure a referral note from the National Hospital management, who he said claimed that their facility, being the best in the country could no reverse itself by referring Metuh to inferior Nigerian hospitals having earlier referred him for treatment abroad. “This trial will come and go, and God willing, we will all be alive to continue to work from the Bar. It is not a matter of life and death,’’ he said.
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