Why Do Alleged Looters Always Fall Sick During Trial?

Olisa-Metuh-court

National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, whose trial was to continue on Tuesday, was absent from court as his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), stated that Metuh was on bed rest at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Ikpeazu, also tendered to the judge a medical report  signed by a neurosurgeon consultant at the National Hospital, Dr. O.O Olaleye, confirming that Metuh was in the hospital for a bed rest.

This pattern of falling sick with a life threatening ailment has become an interesting pattern adopted by many Nigerian politicians facing trial or about to face trial for looting our common wealth.

Today also, the trial of Patrick Akpolobokemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, for an alleged fraud of N2.6bn scheduled to continue on Tuesday couldn’t because his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), told the court that his client had fallen ill and prayed the court for an adjournment to enable his client to recover before the trial would continue.

We have seen cases in the past where alleged looters like former Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, former National Security Adviser Mr. Sambo Dasuki, and former EFCC Chairman Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde claimed to be too sick to face trial or questioning and this tactics of buying time never gets old.

We have always complained of the epileptic nature of our judicial system and many reforms have suggested to change the way things are being done but shouldn’t there be a provision in our court system where accused persons are made to face trial dead  or alive