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Nigeria's former President, Goodluck Jonathan has listed seven reasons why he want to be shielded from appearing as a witness in the ongoing corruption trial of ex-Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh at an Abuja Federal High Court.
Metuh, who is standing trial for receiving the sum of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014, had issued a subpoena on Jonathan.
The former president had urged the court to set it aside because it’s an invasion of his privacy.
Here are seven reasons given by the former President to stay away from the trial:
1. There are several attempts by some persons in the current dispensation, to harass, intimidate and rubbish” his reputation and that of his wife, the witness summon issued on him was a ploy to drag his name in the mud.
2. There had been attempts to seize the properties and bank accounts of his wife, Patience, her relatives and her pet non-governmental organisation.
3. Most of the cases filed for and against such moves are currently pending before various courts across Nigeria.
4. That he knows nothing pertaining to the seven counts for which Olisa Metuh, the first defendant in the charge is standing trial and consequently, has absolutely nothing to say as a witness before the court in respect thereof.
5. That he verily believes that the evidence sought from him, is likely to expose him to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.
6. Contending that the subpoena was vague and was obtained on frivolous grounds obtained in bad faith as it was meant to embarrass the former President.
7. Metuh was not a personal aide or an appointee of the applicant, as such could not have dealt with the President directly under any circumstance to warrant the invitation.
Metuh, who is standing trial for receiving the sum of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014, had issued a subpoena on Jonathan.
The former president had urged the court to set it aside because it’s an invasion of his privacy.
Here are seven reasons given by the former President to stay away from the trial:
1. There are several attempts by some persons in the current dispensation, to harass, intimidate and rubbish” his reputation and that of his wife, the witness summon issued on him was a ploy to drag his name in the mud.
2. There had been attempts to seize the properties and bank accounts of his wife, Patience, her relatives and her pet non-governmental organisation.
3. Most of the cases filed for and against such moves are currently pending before various courts across Nigeria.
4. That he knows nothing pertaining to the seven counts for which Olisa Metuh, the first defendant in the charge is standing trial and consequently, has absolutely nothing to say as a witness before the court in respect thereof.
5. That he verily believes that the evidence sought from him, is likely to expose him to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture.
6. Contending that the subpoena was vague and was obtained on frivolous grounds obtained in bad faith as it was meant to embarrass the former President.
7. Metuh was not a personal aide or an appointee of the applicant, as such could not have dealt with the President directly under any circumstance to warrant the invitation.
