ABUJA — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has
arraigned the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, on a fresh two-count-charge of destroying the evidence
against him.
Metuh, who was yesterday, docked before an Abuja High Court sitting at
Maitama on a two-count charge bordering on his alleged destruction of evidence
against him, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Metuh was for the second time
brought to court in handcuffs.
This happened just as the trial of embattled former National Security
Adviser, NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) on a 19-count-charge turned dramatic,
yesterday, at the Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama as the trial judge stood
down trial for two hours, insisting that he must be produced in court as
required by law before he could continue with the proceedings.
METUH IN COURT—Publicity Secretary of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Pdp, Chief Olisa Metuh, signing a document at the Federal
High Court, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.
Metuh however denied allegation that he destroyed a confessional
statement he made before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
EFCC, in the charge which was signed by its Assistant Director, Legal
& Prosecution Department, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, alleged that the PDP
spokesman who is also facing another seven-count criminal charge before Justice
Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, tore and attempted to chew the
statement he made under caution while undergoing interrogation.
The anti-graft agency insisted that the destroyed statement would have
been vital to its prosecution of the N400m fraud case pending against Metuh
before the Federal High Court.
It said that Metuh, by his action, committed an offence contrary to
sections 166 and 326 of the Penal Code Act.
Meanwhile, for the second time, authorities of the Kuje prison,
yesterday, brought Metuh to court in handcuffs. Shortly after the defendant
entered his plea, trial Justice Ishaq Bello adjourned hearing on his bail
application till Monday.
Metuh had through his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, applied to be
released on bail pending the determination of the charge against him.
Ikpeazu contended that the allegation against his client is a bailable
one.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Tahir, while indicating his intention
to oppose Metuh’s bail request, stressed that the charge levelled against him
attracts two years imprisonment upon his conviction.
The EFCC lawyer equally told the court that the commission has already
lined up three witnesses to testify against the defendant.
While adjourning hearing on the bail application, Justice Bello queried
why the EFCC failed to incorporate the current charge to the one already
pending before the FHC.
Part of the charge that was preferred against Metuh yesterday read,
“That you, Olisa Metuh in January 2016 while in the custody of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, attempted to destroy evidence to prevent its
production in court during trial contrary to Section 1 of the Panel Code.
“That you Olisa Metuh, with intent to cause damage to the property of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, tore into pieces statement you
made under caution contrary to section 326 of the panel code and punishable
under Section 327 of the same code”.
It will be recalled that Justice Abang had on Tuesday, granted Metuh
bail to the tune of N400million.
The court however ordered that he should be remanded at Kuje Prison
pending when he is able to perfect all the bail conditions.
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