Why justice Abang cannot continue with Olisa Metuh’s trial – Group
– A civil society organization (CSO) has said that the ongoing trial of Metuh has been mismanaged and also assumed a controversial dimension
– The organization said that open altercation between Justice Okon Abang and the defendants on allegations of bias and infraction of the court has jeopardized the trial
– The CSO called on the chief justice of the federation and the National Judiciary Council (NJC) to do the needful in protecting the integrity of the institutions
Justice Okon Abang
A civil Society organization, Civil Society Coalition in Defence of Democracy has expressed disappointment over the trial of the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, April 5, the chairman of the organization, James Michael said the ongoing trial of Metuh has been mismanaged and also assumed a controversial dimension.
Michael said the open altercation between the judge over the matter, Okon Abang and the defendants on allegations of bias and infraction of the court has jeopardized the trial to the extent that any judgement delivered on the matter may no longer be seen as credible, fair and just.
“First, we find unacceptable the continued externalization of the court process by the trial judge and the prosecution, a development, which undermines the sanctity of the process and gave the leeway for the miscarriage of the process from court trial to media trial,” Michael said.
He said the judiciary must guide against salient issues denting the ongoing high profile trial.
READ ALSO: Facts show Olisa Metuh and his trial judge were classmates
“Also, the orchestrated publications propagating the position of the prosecution to the media as witnessed in the April 4, 2016 reports in a section of the media, even when the matter contained has not been opened for debate in the court heavily detracts from the integrity of the trial process,” he said.
Michael also said the action of the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in defending the judge and insisting he must not hands off the case raises concerns.
He said: “This action of the prosecution in going public with its defence amounts to an intimidation of the court, a development that bears pressure on the judge, especially one that is already having altercation with the defence.”
“Furthermore, we have carefully examined the issues raised in the request for transfer of case and motion for the judge to disqualify himself and noted certain issues, which should be addressed.
“Whereas Nigerians look forward to a speedy and credible dispensation of justice, we must state categorically that we are not happy that the trial judge and the EFCC have mismanaged this trial.
“A situation where a trial judge conducts himself as a prosecutor leaves much to be desired and cannot guarantee justice as provided by the laws,” he said.
The group also said it will be morally wrong and counterproductive for the judge in the matter to continue presiding over the matter.
READ ALSO: Hidden truth: Why Metuh is seeking transfer of case file to another judge
He also called on the chief justice of the federation and the National Judiciary Council (NJC) to do the needful in protecting the integrity of the institutions.
“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and the survival of our democracy and as such all hands must be on the deck to protect its impartiality at all times.
“In as much as Nigerians are interested in bringing to book all corrupt persons, we hold that the process must be fair, just and beyond questions of biases, otherwise the crusade would lose credibility as political persecution and settlement of scores,” Michael added.
Metuh who is currently facing trial before Justice Abang has raised concerns over the conduct of the judge through one of his counsels, Emeka Etiaba.
Source had also told NAIJ.com that Metuh and Abang had had a frosty relationship during their days in school at the Nigerian Law School Lagos in 1988.
But Abang in his defence has also denied any relationship with Metuh.
He also denied being classmates with the defendant, a fact which has been verified by NAIJ.com as false.
Also, some very notable Nigerians including the past chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu has also discredited Abang’s claim.
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