Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 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
(four hundred million naira) from former National Security Adviser (NSA),
Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), who is also being tried for laundering $2.1 billion.
Consequently, he was admitted to bail on January
15, 2016 in the sum of N400,000,000 (Four hundred million naira) and two
sureties in the sum of N200million naira each. Each of the sureties must have
landed properties in Maitama, Abuja and must provide 3 years tax clearance.
They must also submit affidavit, with 2 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 (four hundred million naira) 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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