Real reason why court struck out GEJ’s request for a N1 billion payment before appearing as witness for Metuh

macfranc007 November 02, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Buchi Obichie

- The reason why the Abuja Federal High Court refused Goodluck Jonathan’s request to be paid the sum of N1 billion before appearing as a witness for Olisa Metuh, has been revealed

- The former president had asked for the cash payment, for his travel and logistics expenses from Bayelsa to Abuja

- The trial judge however dismissed the request because he stated that the former president could not rely on information from the media to conclude that the court’s invitation was vague

A request put forth by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to be given N1 billion before appearing as a witness in the trial of former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisah Metuh, may have to be repeated, Premium Times reports.

Following a subpoena issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on October 23, Jonathan had been ordered to appear as a witness for Metuh.

However, Jonathan requested for the money to be given to him as travel and logistics expenses; a request which was subsequently struck out by the Federal High Court, Abuja division.

NAIJ.com gathers that that Justice Okong Abang, the presiding judge, agreed with the defense counsel’s submission that it was wrong for the former president to solely rely on information provided by the media as the basis for his application.

This is because when the subpoena was issued for the former president to appear, his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, asked for it to be set aside because he (Ozekhome) believed that according to details obtained from the media, the directive was vague.

Abang stated: “Dr. Jonathan, with the greatest respect to him, cannot rely on a news item from the media to conclude that the invitation is vague.

“I am inclined to dismiss this application, because it has been heard on its merits, but I will strike it out.”

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Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, explained why he would not be testifying in the ongoing trial of the past national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.

In an application filed by the former president before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Jonathan said appearing as a witness in Metuh's trial will expose him to criminal trial.

He highlighted fears that some individuals in President Muhammadu Buhari's administration were making several efforts ‘to harass, intimidate and rubbish’ his reputation and that of his wife, Patience.

Jonathan was never a bad president - on NAIJ.com TV: