Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, were divided over a motion seeking to intervene in the ongoing trial of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.
Metuh, who is being tried for alleged money laundering, was brought to the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday on a stretcher, after the trial judge threatened to withdraw his bail.
At the plenary on Tuesday, Chris Azubogwu, a PDP lawmaker from Anambra state, raised a motion titled the, ‘Urgent need to save the life of Olisa Metuh’.
Azubogwu said Metuh’s life was in danger and noted it was sad he had to be stretchered into court.
The lawmaker wondered why the former PDP spokesperson was being denied the chance to travel abroad for medical care.
But Emmanuel Orker-Jev, an APC lawmaker from Benue state, drew the lawmakers’ notice to order 9 rule 1 of the house.
Orker-Jev said the order stipulates that no decision shall be made on any matter, whose judgement is pending in court such a way that it will give prejudice for any party involved.
“The motion seeks to question what the court is doing. If the motion passes, what will happen?” he asked.
“If the court does not give him fair hearing, he can go to the higher court and not the national assembly. Constitutionally, we are not supposed to be deliberating on this motion. It is premature to address this issue.”
On his part, the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, drew the attention of the lawmakers on the principle of separation of powers.
According to him, the legislature is prohibited from infringing on the powers and functions of the judiciary, likewise the judiciary prohibited from infringing on theirs.
“The way the court treats a case is absolutely left to the jurisdiction of the court,” he said.
Dogara, however, sought the opinion of the lawmakers as to how the matter could be handled, “so it doesn’t look like we are infringing on the powers of the court.”
Edward Pwajok, an APC lawmaker from Plateau state l, suggested the motion can be amended, “in such a way that the prayers therein will be directed to the attorney-general of the federation (AGF)”.
“This motion is important considering the nature of issue involved. If the trial is going to continue, the man has to be alive to face trial. And we are talking about his health here.
“So we should rather direct the prayers to the AGF who is the chief prosecutor in the case,.and not the court.”
In their resolution, the lawmakers urged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, to “look into the matter and ensure the accused is given appropriate medical treatment.”
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