25th May, 2016
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Wednesday that he lacked jurisdiction to release Olisa Metuh’s passport.
The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the application filed by the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, asking for permission to travel abroad for his medical treatment.
Counsel to Mr. Metuh, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, had on May 23 informed the court of an application dated May 16 seeking permission to allow Mr. Metuh travel to the United Kingdom for five weeks to attend to his failing health.
According to Premium Times, Ikpeazu, had also asked the court to permit the release of Mr. Metuh’s passport so that if the first application is granted, he (Mr. Metuh) would be able to travel for the proposed treatment of his ailing spinal cord.
The trial judge, Okon Abang, had on that day said the court would decide on Mr. Metuh’s application on May 25.
Mr. Abang had also asked both counsels on May 23 whether his court had the jurisdiction to grant the second application by Mr. Ikpeazu, seeking for the release of Mr. Metuh’s international passport.
After listening to the arguments of both counsel, Mr. Abang stated in his ruling, Wednesday, that the application seeking the release of Mr. Metuh’s international passport should not have come to his court in the first place.
He noted that the decision was made with regards to the nature of Mr. Metuh’s trial and that the court cannot hold back its decision.
Mr. Abang emphasized that the present condition of the defendant should not be a reason for the law to be compromised.