Former National Publicity
Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, Monday
filed an application at a Federal High court, sitting in Abuja against the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, for
alleged wilful misrepresentation of court proceedings.
Uwujaren in the controversial
publication had alleged that Metuh admitted to have shared an alleged N400m
collected from the detained Sambo Dasuki and even detailed how it was shared.
But, Metuh absolutely denied to
have admitted any of the claims by Uwujaren that were reported in various media
houses.
The alleged published
misrepresentation by the EFCC website and official Facebook page, was titled,
“How I Shared N400m from Dasuki – Metuh”.
But at the resumed hearing on
Monday, Counsel to Olisa Metuh, Mr. Abel Ozioko, therefore, informed the court,
presided over by Justice Okon Abang, of the alleged contemptuous publication,
which he described as malicious, mischievous and deliberate misrepresentation
intended to mislead the public, blackmail the court and derail the course of
justice.
Ozioko lamented that the report
did not reflect the proceedings in court on Friday, September 27, but allegedly
held outright falsehood and distortions aimed to “mislead the unsuspecting
public” on issues regarding the case.
Ozioko stated that contrary to
claims in the EFCC publication, Metuh “never admitted receiving any money from
Col. Sambo Dasuki, neither did he admit to have shared the N400m duly released
to him by President Goodluck Jonathan, for an approved special national
assignment to individuals for other purposes”.
According to the Ozioko, “the
publication was deliberately designed to injure and drag the integrity of this
honorable court in the mud and derail a fair trial by selling to the Nigerian
public an impression that the defendant admitted receiving N400m from Col.
Sambo Dasuki and shared it for political purposes.
In his words, “My Lord, this is
very mischievous. It may lead to an outcry and public vilification of the
integrity of this court when eventually the court looks at the hard evidence
before it and takes a decision. If that decision is not in line with the
impression the EFCC is creating in the mind of the public by this type of
publication, the court will be accused of bias.”
Metuh’s counsel reminded the
court of various occasions the Defendants had brought issues of media
misrepresentations by the EFCC and how the court had continuously frowned at
such practice.
He, therefore, moved the court,
via a motion, to protect its integrity and put an end to the media trial in
Metuh’s case by ordering that the EFCC Spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwajeren to appear
before it to show why he should not be committed to prison for contempt and
misrepresentation of proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Abang
fixed Monday, October 7, for hearing of the application to determine Uwajeren’s
fate.
After further cross-examination
of the Defendant, the court adjourned, however, the substantive matter to
Wednesday, October 3, for continuation of trial.
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