The previous National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has asked the judiciary to develop policies that will guide the offering of medical dispensation to those awaiting trial or in incarceration.

Metuh who while resolving Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership in Abuja on Tuesday, throughout a see described his experience at the Federal High Court when his entreaties for medical leave was rejected.

He explained that his ask for medical treatment was repeatedly declined even with medical reports (including X-rays, scan and MRIs) from several reputable university mentor health centers in Nigeria.

The previous PDP scribe lamented that in the last 14 months, he has actually had medical treatments and surgeries in an attempt to remedy the damage done to his health following his inability to access requisite specialist care throughout his trial.

“I invite you on your go to of uniformity to console me over the travails I have actually had with my health, particularly this surgical treatment which was much deeper than what I thought at. I was actually terrified since when they took me to the theatre, they discovered that my condition was had, as is often the case with the body when it is not looked after early.

“In the past 14 months, I have gone through painful treatments and surgeries. All the specialists that I saw notified me that the hold-up in getting prompt treatment caused basic damage to my physiology and general health.

“This is all due to the fact that I was denied the anticipation of innocence that ought to have operated in my favour. This rejection appeared to be approximate and without adverting to the in-depth medical reports consisting of X-rays, scans and MRIs from numerous trustworthy University Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria.

“My lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, even used to use his practicing certificate and licence as an extra guarantee.

“I had no choice however to attend court on health center stretchers and wheelchairs, typically incapacitated and in excruciating pain.

“As an extremely senior attorney myself, I truthfully believe that clear and detailed practice directions on accommodation of applications for indulgence on medical premises would have greatly lowered and probably got rid of the scope for caprice which has shown so negative to my health.

“To paraphrase a litigant in America whose charges were abandoned as mine have however just after suffering individual adversity, “I more than happy for my flexibility but where can I go to get my health back?

“It is on this note that I am appealing to the Judiciary to take a look at methods of offering the advantage of doubts to defendants who have medical conditions and may need immediate specialist medical attention and treatment. For instance, if in doubt, the Judge may be needed to buy the medical doctor or the primary medical director of the healthcare facility to appear to certify the report and verbally validate the requirement to grant the leave for medical treatment,” Metuh specified.

Speaking at the go to, President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Abuja Chapter, Chief S.O.D Onyekwere. thanked God for conserving Metuh’s life and advised him to stay strong and continue in good spirit in spite of his travails.

“We thank God for the strength and strength you revealed throughout and most of all your faith in God,” he said.

It would be remembered that the Court of Appeal in December 2020 voided the February 25, 2020 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Okon Abang on the premises of manifest bias by the trial judge.