The House also mandated the House committees on Justice and Human Right to follow up and report back to the House within two weeks.
The House resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Honourable Chris Azubogu entitled, “urgent need to save the life of Chief Olisa Metuh.”
In his motion, the lawmaker quoted Chapter IV Section 33 (1) of the 1999 constitution of federal republic of Nigeria (as amended), “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in the execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”
According to him, “the life of Olisa Metuh who happens to be my constituent is under grave danger but presently he is facing trial on charges of money laundering an offence if convicted does not prescribe death as the penalty”.
To this end, he raised concern that “Olisa Metuh whose health condition started deteriorating in the hands of EFCC which lead to his collapse in court some time ago before he was rushed to the National Hospital.”
He further raised concern that “Olisa Metuh travelled to Nnewi some weeks back to attend to some family issues and was rushed to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital Nnewi on emergency due to complications on the same spinal cord injury.”
He added that “While on admission, the court refused the medical report requesting to be given enough time by the hospital to complete their investigation on him. Which prompted his transfer to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu before the National Hospital Abuja in Ambulance to enable him to appear for trial on the order of the court.”
He maintained that he is on trial but not yet convicted and his health is deteriorating. Further denial for him to receive appropriate medical attention overseas could cause him his life or permanent paralysis since presently he is bedridden.
Specifically, he said that, “It is only the living that can answer to charges of criminal offence and Olisa Metuh a lawyer I know will not become a fugitive because of the charges he is facing if granted a leave to obtain treatment for a given period of time and come back to continue with his trial since he is already on bail and there is surety.
“The same court has granted some other persons on similar charges leave to travel overseas for medical attention but has consistently denied the request by Olisa Metuh. And it is perceived as different strokes for different folks without contesting the discretion of the court”, he stated.
However, there were arguments against the motion from Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Honourable Emmanuel Oker-Jev citing order 9 rule 1 sub-rule 5.
According to him, “the motion seeks to question what the court is doing directly. My sympathy is with him but we need to be very careful.”
The Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Chukwuka Onyeama, however, told the House that bail condition for the former PDP spokesman was not pending, adding that the motion should be allowed.
ALSO READ: Alleged N400m fraud: Metuh’s ill-health stalls trial, adjourns till Tuesday
The motion was passed when the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara put the motion to voice vote after amendment excluding “Federal High Court Abuja” from the motion.
and then