$2.1B Arms Scam: After 24 Days In Detention, Olisa Metuh Regains Freedom

After spending 24 days in detention, the National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, today regained his freedom after fulfilling his bail conditions. A senior advocate of Nigeria leading his defence team, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) confirmed Metuh’s release from detention.

Following his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on January 5, Metuh was arraigned along with his firm, Destra Investment Ltd before the court over alleged N400 million money laundering allegations. He was granted bail by Justice Okon Abang on January 19, 2016 in the sum of N400m 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 certificates of occupancy of the property presented by them.

‎But when it become practically impossible for Metuh to meet the conditions, he approached the court with an application seeking variation. Justice Abang yesterday, Wednesday granted the application and varied 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 N400m 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.

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, Metuh in company of his lawyers began making frantic efforts to fulfill the conditions. Senior lawyers were seen moving about with documents for the purpose of the assignment.