Metuh’s trial: Justice Abang mandates bailiff to serve Goodluck Jonathan

macfranc007 October 25, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 David Oladele

- The Federal High Court in Abuja has given the court bailiff five days ultimatum to serve Goodluck Jonathan, the former president with the subpoena compelling him to appear in court

- Jonathan is expected to appear in the court over the trial of Olisa Metuh, former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

- Justice Okon Abang of the court said without the former president appearing, the court might not be able to make any progress in the case

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, October 25, gave the court bailiff five days to serve Goodluck Jonathan, the former president with the subpoena compelling him to appear in court over the trial of Olisa Metuh, former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Punch reports that the court also ordered the counsel prosecuting Metuh, Sylvanus Tahir, to persuade the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explore administrative means of ensuring that the Department of State Service (DSS) produced Sambo Dasuki, the detained former national security adviser, in court on October 31.

NAIJ.com gathered that the court has issued two separate subpoenas on Jonathan and Dasuki, compelling them to appear in court on Wednesday, October 25. But both men were, however, absent from court.

Justice Okon Abang of the court explained in his ruling on Wednesday, October 25, that without the two summoned witnesses appearing, the court might not be able to make any progress in the case.

Abang also noted that while Dasuki had been served with the court subpoena, Jonathan had yet to be served and so could not be blamed for failure to attend court on Wednesday.

But the judge noted that singular attempt by the court bailiff to serve Jonathan personally with the witness summon at his home in Abuja, was not sufficient.

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He therefore directed the bailiff to take further steps to ensure personal service on Jonathan within five days from Wednesday.

He said if after five days, the bailiff was unable to serve Jonathan personally, Metuh, who was the one who applied for the subpoena, should kick-start the process of serving the former president through substituted means.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that Jonathan and Dasuki were absent in court on Wednesday, October 25 as the hearing in the trial of Metuh, resumed before the court.

The former president's absence from court could be because of inability of the court bailiff to serve him with the court’s subpoena on Tuesday, October 24.

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