Alleged N400m Fraud: Metuh Back In Court Oct 14
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 14, 2021, as the new date for the arraignment of former National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, over alleged N400 million fraud.
The date was fixed following the absence of the new trial Judge, Obiora Egwuatu, in court. Though Metuh’s matter was number six on the Court list, the retrial could not proceed because of the judge’s absence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all parties in the matter, including Metuh, were in court. The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on December 16, 2020, nullified a Federal High Court judgment that convicted and sentenced Metuh to seven years imprisonment for money laundering.
In a unanimous decision, a three-man panel of Justices of the appellate court held that the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang’s ruling against Metuh on February 25, 2020, was tainted with bias.
According to the appellate court, Justice Abang had, by disparaging remarks he made in the judgment, betrayed his premeditated mindset against Metuh whom he accused of writing various petitions against him.
Justice Stephen Adah, who delivered the appellate court’s lead verdict, had said allowing the trial court’s verdict to stand “will set a dangerous precedent”.
Consequently, the Court voided the conviction and sentence on Metuh and his firm, Destra Investment Limited, and remitted the case file to the High Court for a re-trial by another judge.
Metuh was jailed over the allegation of receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), prior to the 2015 presidential election, without contract approval or execution.
His earlier conviction followed a seven-count charge that was preferred against him and his firm by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). – NAN reports