Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has begged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to look into the continuous refusal of travel leave to the party’s national spokesperson, Olisa Metuh.
Metuh, who is currently on trial for allegedly collecting N400m and another millions of Dollars from the office of the National Security Adviser, had been appealing to the court in order for him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The PDP said in the spirit of democracy and freedom, Metuh should be allowed to allowed to travel.
Appealing to the CJN in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Gani Taofik, the PDP asked him to give his opinion on the denial of the request by Metuh.
The party said in view of Metuh’s family ties to the country, he would not run away in order to evade trial.
The PDP said, “We ask the state not to take the ordinary prosecution to be a persecution as the whole efforts would be defeated if, God forbid, the defendant becomes permanently incapacitated due to lack of medical care for his peculiar ailments.
“He (Metuh) has survived several attacks and we think that this prosecution should not turn into persecution. We are of the belief that it is not the wish of the judicial system that a defendant dies or is permanently incapacitated during trial in circumstances that are ordinarily avoidable. Olisa Metuh is a lawyer and is aware of the implication of jumping bail. He is not likely to jump bail. We appeal that justice should be tempered with mercy as this is very appropriate in this circumstance."
Metuh, who is currently on trial for allegedly collecting N400m and another millions of Dollars from the office of the National Security Adviser, had been appealing to the court in order for him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The PDP said in the spirit of democracy and freedom, Metuh should be allowed to allowed to travel.
Appealing to the CJN in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Gani Taofik, the PDP asked him to give his opinion on the denial of the request by Metuh.
The party said in view of Metuh’s family ties to the country, he would not run away in order to evade trial.
The PDP said, “We ask the state not to take the ordinary prosecution to be a persecution as the whole efforts would be defeated if, God forbid, the defendant becomes permanently incapacitated due to lack of medical care for his peculiar ailments.
“He (Metuh) has survived several attacks and we think that this prosecution should not turn into persecution. We are of the belief that it is not the wish of the judicial system that a defendant dies or is permanently incapacitated during trial in circumstances that are ordinarily avoidable. Olisa Metuh is a lawyer and is aware of the implication of jumping bail. He is not likely to jump bail. We appeal that justice should be tempered with mercy as this is very appropriate in this circumstance."
Comments
Post a Comment