Metuh granted fresh N600m bail

The embattled National Publicity Secretary of the People's Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, has been granted a fresh N600m bail by Justice Ishaq Bello of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

Olisa Metuh is facing separate charges of destruction of evidence on January 5, 2016 while he was in EFCC custody. He also pleaded not guilty. 

He was also ordered to produce two sureties whose residence must be given to the court for verification. 

Olisa Metuh on Tuesday was granted bail by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja with respect to charges of money laundering involving N400m he allegedly collected from the office of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

The EFCC alleged that the PDP spokesperson “destroyed document to prevent its production as evidence,” thereby committing an offence which is said to be punishable under Section 166 of the Penal Code CAP 532 LFN, Abuja (2004).

In his oral application, Metuh’s lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, a senior advocate, anchored the application on provisions of sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 as well as sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

The judge in his ruling agreed that the offences were bailable and that he was presumed innocent until proved guilty.

The fresh charges against him read, “Olisa Metuh, on the 5th day of January 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, destroyed the document, to wit: a statement made under caution to investigators/operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the 5th of January 2016 with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence in a court of law.

“Olisa Metuh, on the 5th day of January 2016 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, with intent to cause wrongful loss or damage to the property of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission committed mischief by destroying/tearing into pieces a statement you made under caution to investigations/investigative of the EFCC.”