News
Fraud trial: Metuh Appeals for Release of Int’l Passport to Seek Medical Treatment a Abroad
A former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, on Wednesday asked the Federal High Court, Abuja to order the release of his international passport to enable him travel overseas for medical treatment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the third time Metuh is asking the court to release his international passport for him to seek medical attention abroad.
At the resumed hearing, the Judge, Justice Okon Abang, granted Metuh’s Counsel, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN) permission to move the application.
Etiaba noted that his client did not appeal against the two previous applications, which were refused by the court but added that this was a new and different application.
“It is instructive to note that the facts now are different from the facts relied on in the previous application.
“He (Metuh) has lost sensation in his lower leg, this never happened before so this reinforces the fact that the circumstances of this application are different.”
According to Etiaba, the exercise of discretion is always based on the material made available to the court and the ruling on the last two applications were based on material made available to the court at that time.
He said that his client, by the fresh application, was presenting a new case before the court in line with the new fact that had emerged and prayed the court to consider the application.
“It is not a case where the court will be viewed as being “functus officio” as the new application does not seek to re-open the previous applications, which were determined based on circumstances different from this one.”
On the issue that the court had said it would not entertain a medical report from any doctor in Nigeria with regards to Metuh’s case, Etiaba said that they were relying on a letter from a neurosurgeon in the UK.
“We rely on exhibit three, which is a letter from a world renowned neurosurgeon by name Adrian Cassy and the prosecution can bring its team of medical experts to examine the first defendant.”
In the opposing argument, the Prosecutor, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, prayed the court to dismiss the application on grounds that it lacked merit and was an abuse of court process.
“The latest application, being the third in the series, is an abuse of court process as the court has refused similar applications twice.”
According to Tahir, the only thing different about the latest application is the timing because the circumstance, which is the release of international passport on the grounds of ill health remains the same.
The prosecutor noted that there was also no medical report from a foreign doctor attached to the application.
Abang adjourned the matter until March 15 for continuation of arguments.
Abang had earlier refused another application seeking permission for Metuh, who appeared in court on a wheelchair, to be absent from the proceedings based on his health.
The judge had also earlier raised the question as to whether the court as constituted had the power to hear the application seeking the release of Metuh’s international passport.
“The issues cited in the two previous rulings were the same and one of the reasons raised in that application was that Metuh is suffering from spinal cord ailment.” (NAN)
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
PDP Crisis: Saraki, Dickson, Dankwambo Storm Enugu, Meet with Gov Mbah
Atiku Abubakar’s Coalition on a Path to Failure after Struggles
Nature, Wellness and Culinary Drive 2025 Travel Trends in Africa, according to Mastercard Economics Institute
LASG Acquires New Outboard Engines For Optimum Boat Performance
Elon Musk builds Hotel in Mars, Sets to launch soon at $5million per night – Photos
