Arms deal: Metuh out on bail

•After 24 days in EFCC custody, Kuje Prisons

By Iheanacho Nwosu, Taiwo Amodu and Godwin Tsa, Abuja

After 24 days in detention, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday night, fulfilled his bail conditions to regain temporary freedom.

A senior lawyer in his defence team, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) confirmed his release from detention to Daily Sun.

Upon his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 5,  where he spent weeks in its custody, Metuh was finally arraigned before the court over alleged N400 million money laundering allegations through  his firm, Destra Investment Limited.

He was granted bail by Justice Okon Abang on January 19, 2016 in the sum of N400 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court said the two sureties must be residents of Abuja and have property in Maitaima district worth N200 million.

The court further directed  the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, to, within 24 hours of being notified, verify the addresses of the proposed sureties and the Certificate of Occupancy of the property to be presented by them.

But, when it became practically impossible for Metuh to meet up with these conditions, he approached the court with an application seeking the variation of the conditions.

On Wednesday, Justice Abang granted the application and lessened the bail terms.

In his ruling on Metuh’s application for the variation of his bail conditions, Justice Okon Abang, said the applicant would no longer be required to produce two sureties who must have property limited to the Maitama District of Abuja.

While the bail sum of N400 million and other attached conditions remain, Metuh’s proposed sureties, who the court insisted must be resident in Abuja, could now be owners of property with valid title documents “in any district of the Federal Capital Territory.”

The court rejected the second leg of the application despite disregarding the opposition by prosecuting counsel to that aspect of the prayer for failing to file his objection to the application within 24 hours earlier given him to do so.

The judge upheld Metuh’s counsel, Emeka Etiaba’s request that Tahir’s submissions be expunged from the court’s records but still went ahead to rule that, “As regarding the second leg of the application, I think the first defendant (Metuh) is asking for what is not legally permissible.”

Justice Abang said since the purpose of  bail is to give liberty to the defendant to be able to defend himself, and he has deposed to affidavit that while he has not been able to get anybody in Maitaima to stand surety for him, he has friends with more expensive property in other districts of the FCT, the court is compelled to vary the bail conditions.

“The court, in varying its earlier condition is not sitting in an appeal, but making an order to give effects to its earlier condition,” Justice Abang said.

The judge said he has his reasons for making the order and if the defence counsel is dissatisfied with it, the only option is to go to on appeal.

He, however, assured that the court will ensure that the prosecution counsel will not be an obstacle to the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

After proceedings in court yesterday, Metuh, in company with his lawyers made frantic efforts to meet up with the conditions.

Senior lawyers were seen moving about with documents for the purpose of the assignment.

Metuh, whose case was heard yesterday, retired to the courtroom where he sat with family members and friends.

Daily Sun was told that Metuh had to fast-tract the process in view of the fact that the trial judge is scheduled to travel to Lagos tomorrow and would not be back till next week.

A source at the EFCC confided in Daily Sun that his lawyers arrived the commission late in the evening where the bail documents were verified.

When contacted, Metuh’s  family thanked God for his release. A senior family member who declined to be named said the “family is pleased that he is out. We thank God for making his release possible.”

He, however, said the family may  issue a formal statement on his travail and the bail granted him today.

From his party, however, mum was the word.

The party’s National Working Committee last night declined comments on Metuh’s bail.

Speaking with Daily Sun on phone, deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdulahi Jalo, declined comments when he told Daily  Sun that only the Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus can talk on the development.

“I can’t speak on Metuh; only the national chairman is in a position to talk on that. Please, call Secondus,” Jalo said.

Secondus could not be reached on phone as his line was switched off.