ABUJA, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried what it called an “Unjustified official intrusion” of the Presidency in the ongoing trial of its immediate past National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.
The party took exception to the comment by the Presidency, through its aide, Lauretta Onochie, allegedly mocking Metuh’s health condition when he was brought before a Federal High Court, Abuja earlier in the week on a stretcher which she described as a “Nollywood act.”
The PDP, in a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the presidency has been intruding into Metuh’s trial, describing the development as repulsive.
“It is repulsive that a Presidential aide has once again intruded directly, with malicious suggestions, in a matter that is on trial…It is instructive to state that Metuh, whose spinal chord ailment has badly deteriorated, was brought to court in his current medical state, sequel to the order of the trial judge.
“It is public knowledge that Justice Okon Abang on January 25, 2018 rejected medical reports from doctors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, where Metuh had been on admission and ordered him to appear in court on Monday February 5, 2018 or have his bail revoked.
“It is therefore irresponsible, wicked and an unpardonable act of inhumanity, for the presidency or any of its agents to mock Metuh for obeying the order of court, even in his current state of health”, the party noted.
While insisting there’s a sinister move against the ex- publicity scribe, the party said it has gathered that government agents have been harassing medical aides and practitioners across the country for offering any form of treatment or assistance to him (Metuh).
“While we are not opposed to the trial of any of our members for any matter whatsoever, we insist that the process must be fair, without external influences and in strict compliance with provisions of the law,” the party added.
