Former president, Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside the subpoena compelling him to appear in the trial of former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.
Where the court refuses to set aside the summons, Jonathan
wants the court to make an order directing Metuh to deposit the sum of
N1billion with the court to cover his travel expenses and security from his
hometown of Otuoke in Bayelsa State to Abuja and also for logistics “to cover
any period of time that he might spend appearing before this honourable court
as President of Nigerian between 2010 and 2015.” In a motion on notice filed
yesterday by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Jonathan stated that the request
was in line with the provision of Section 241 (2) of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Metuh was in
January 2016 arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering
for allegedly receiving the sum of N400 million from former National Security
Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
Justice Okon Abang had on October 23 ordered Jonathan to appear before
the court following an application by Metuh to summon the ex-president and
former NSA, Dasuki as necessary witnesses in the trial. But Jonathan has
told the court he knows nothing and has “absolutely nothing to say as a witness
in respect of the case,” adding that the charges against Metuh has no nexus or
connection to him to warrant an invitation to testify in the charge. He stated
that the evidence sought from him is likely to expose him to a criminal charge,
penalty or forfeiture.
Jonathan informed
the court that he views the subpoena as part of attempts by some persons in the
current dispensation to harass, intimidate and rubbish his reputation and that
of his wife. In an affidavit by Usman
Salihu, a lawyer in Ozekhome Chambers, the former president averred that
“Several attempts have been made to attach or seize the accounts and properties
of his wife, her relatives and her pet NGO. Most of the cases filed for and
against such moves are currently pending before the various courts across
Nigeria.” “That when he read about the summons issued on him at the behest of
the 2nd respondent Olisa Metuh, he was shocked as he verily believes strongly
that it forms part of the ploy to drag his name into the mire,” he said.
Jonathan stated
that Metuh was never his personal aide or appointee, explaining that as
president between 2010 and 2015, he appointed ministers and different persons
to carry out the day to day running of the government activities and “such
appointees are those who directly relate with the president and not third
parties such as the 2nd respondent.” He further stated that “it is such
appointees that can explain daily governmental transactions which they directly
supervised and not the President who was overall boss.”
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