WHAT!!!
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday nullified the conviction of former Spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh on alleged money laundering and corruption charges.
A three-man panel led by Justice Stephen Adah in a unanimous judgment, delivered on Wednesday, held that the proceedings of the Federal High Court leading to the conviction of Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, were tainted with bias, and therefore must not be allowed to stand.
Justice Adah, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the utterances of the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in the course of the trial, established that he was biased against the convicts. He, therefore, ordered that trial be conducted afresh.
He directed that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge other than Justice Abang.
Justice Abang had in his judgment delivered on February 25, 2020, sentenced Metuh to seven years’ imprisonment for fraudulently receiving N400m from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki.
Justice Adah, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the utterances of the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in the course of the trial, established that he was biased against the convicts. He, therefore, ordered that trial be conducted afresh.
He directed that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge other than Justice Abang.
Justice Abang had in his judgment delivered on February 25, 2020, sentenced Metuh to seven years’ imprisonment for fraudulently receiving N400m from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki.
from the willnigeria
*These people are Jokers,they are nullifying all the conviction?this is why Nigeria will never be great!!!
LEEMAO
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Drama country. Remaining MAINA's. Hahahaah
DeleteGREAT??? I feel so sorry for anyone expecting a country like Nigeria to be Great, the country cant even be Good. This news dsnt come as a shock.
ReplyDeleteThis is so embarrassing
ReplyDeleteNo it is not. The court of appeal did the right thing. Justice Abang's utterances during the trial showed he was biased against Metuh. I knew the court of appeal will ser aside the case. They sent the matter back to the fed high cat for retrial by another judge. What is embarrassing about that? It would have been embarrassing if that conviction was allowed to stand despite the judge's utterances. If you understand the principles of fair hearing, then you would know that a judge ought not to show open biss against a person brought before him. If he does, no matter how sound his judgement was, the appellate court will set it aside and order a retrial.
DeleteIt is expected. If you followed the case at the trial court, you would notice that the Judge was already biased and making statements betraying his emotions which is very unethical. As a judge, you deal with evidence before you and be careful not to make statements that might portray you as someone who has an interest in the matter.
ReplyDeleteSentiments aside, Court of Appeal was right in ordering for a retrial. Part of the judgment read that the case file should be assigned to another judge that is not Hon. Justice Abang. What does that say?
Sometimes let sentiments not becloud our senses.
Oh Lord!! No hope for the common man!! Whenever I read things like this..I remember this book the incorruptible judge...Can any prophet come out from Nazareth??
DeleteThank you very much my dear. Sometines, it is best to ask a lawyer to explain some legal things to you before jumping to conclusions. A judge is meant to impartial. Once he shows any sign of partiality or bias, any judgment given by him will be set aside. The court of appeal did not say Metuh is innocent. They only said from the records of proceedings and utterances of the trial judge, ut was clear that he was biased against Metuh abd so there is doubt as to whether the conviction given to him was fair. The court of appeal then directed that the matter should be sent back to tge fed high court for a retrial under another judge. The court of appeal and the supreme Court do this in a lot of cases where they feel the judge was biased. It is jot just in Metuh's case alone.
DeleteNow the new judge may end up giving him a harsher sentence but in so far as the judge did not make unfavourable comments against him, the court of appeal will uphold tge conviction. When you are in a position of a judge, be careful how you talk. Even if in your heart, you feel he us guilty, pla be as neutral as possible until judgement is given.
Judiciary is the only problem Nigeria have. Get it right in the Judiciary and every other aspect will fall in place.
ReplyDeletePeriod!
DeleteThe judiciary has done nothing wrong. If you are a lawyer and ubder the law and tge technicalities involved, you will know that the court of appeal did the right thing. Go and meet a lawyer for further explanation
DeleteThere'll be a retrial. What you shouting for?
ReplyDeleteHelp me ask them oh! He wasn't ser free. The court of appeal only said it was clear from the trial judge's utterances during the trial that he was biased against Metuh. Tge set aside the conviction given by the biased judge and ordered a new judge to retry him so I dont understand what tge hulla baloo us all about!
DeleteThis is not a country na.
ReplyDeleteCome and see American wonder!
ReplyDeletePrison made him a better "persin" too
Please don't showcase your ignorance. Ask a lawyer to explain better to you.
Delete