Metuh Seeks Bail Variation As Trial In N400m Suit Begins

SAN FRANCISCO, January 25, (THEWILL) – Embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, is yet to meet the bail conditions imposed on him since January 16 by a Federal High Court in Abuja with respect to the money laundering charges involving the sum of N400m which he allegedly collected from the office of the National Security Adviser.

This led his lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, to, on Monday, file an application for the variation of the bail conditions which was in the sum of N400m with two sureties in the sum of N200m each.

The sureties to be presented by the accused are not only expected to be residents of Abuja but must also own property in Maitama in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

But the prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, said the hearing of the application could not proceed since he was only served only some minutes before the proceedings.

He then urged the judge to direct that prosecution to commence the trial by calling its first witness. Ikpeazu opposed by arguing that the trial could not commence as he was only served with an additional proof of evidence containing the witness statement of an EFCC investigator this morning.

The defence lawyer added that it was agreed that trial would commence today on the assumption that Metuh would have fulfilled ‎ the bail conditions.

In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice Abang Obong, deferred hearing on the application for bail variation to January 27 because the prosecution was just served.

The judge, however, declined to adjourn the trial, as he directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to open its case in the N400m money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption charge against Metuh.

The defence had objected to the commencement of the trial which the judge overruled directing the EFCC to call its first witness on Monday. The anti-graft agency then went ahead to present Nneka Ararume as its first witness in the suit.