Court varies PDP spokesperson, Metuh bail condition
(Nigeria) Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court
sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, varied the bail conditions for the embattled
National publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa
Metuh.
After his arrest on January 5, 2016 by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Metuh was arraigned on a 7-count charge for
allegedly receiving N400million from former National Security Adviser, NSA) Col
Sambo Dasuki (retd), who is also being tried for laundering $2.1 billion.
Consequently, he was admitted to bail on January 15, 2016 in
the sum of N400m and two sureties in the sum of N200million each.
Each of the sureties must have landed properties in Maitama,
Abuja and must provide three years tax clearance.
They must also submit affidavit, with two passports each,
attesting that they have the wherewithal to pay the said sum in event of the
defendant jumping bail Metuh who has since then remained in prison custody for
failure to perfect his bail conditions, on Monday, January 25, 2016 applied for
variation of his bail conditions through his counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN.
Justice Abang, in giving consideration to Metuh’s
application today, opined that the court is enjoined to remove any obstruction
to ensure that, its orders are complied with.
“I therefore vary item 2 in the role order 19 as follows:
the two sureties must be resident in Abuja and owners of landed properties in
any district in Abuja”.
The Judge further upheld that, the certificate of occupancy
of the properties to be tendered by the sureties must be verified by the
prosecuting counsel.
Thereafter, the prosecution, represented by Sylvanus Tahir
presented another witness who testified as PW4, in continuation of the trial.
Testifying, Eno Mfon Efiong, a staff of Diamond Bank Plc and
an account officer to the defendant, identified the letters which were sent to
the bank by the Commission, requesting the statement of account and other
instruments pertaining to Destra Investment Limited.
Efiong told the court that, Destra Investment Limited
received an inflow of N400m in its Diamond Bank account.
She further read from the statement of account presented as
evidence in court, stating a credit transaction from the Central Bank account
to the Office of the National Security Adviser into Destra Investment Limited.
The document, though objected to by the defence counsel
Emeka Etiaba, SAN, was admitted as exhibit.
The matter has been adjourned to January 28, 2016 for
continuation of trial.
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