Abuja Court Remands Pdp Spokesman, Metuh, In Kuje Prison

SAN FRANCISCO, January 15, (THEWILL) – Justice Abang Okon of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered that the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh be remanded at the Kuje Prison in Abuja pending the determination of his application for bail.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had same day arraigned Metuh on a seven-count charge that borders on corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

The charges read that the PDP spokesman transferred the sum of $1m through his agent, Nneka Nicole Ararume, to one Sie Iyenome of Capital Field Investment, committing an offense contrary to Section One of the Money Laundering Act.

He was also accused of receiving the sum of N400m from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), without a contract contrary to the Money Laundering Act. He is also alleged to have converted the said money to fund political activities of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

When these and other accusations were read to him, Metuh, who is also a lawyer, pleaded not guilty. Thereafter, his counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe moved an oral application for bail which was opposed by counsel to the EFCC.

The presiding judge, in his ruling, asked the defence counsel to within six hours forward a properly written application for the accused bail after which the anti-graft agency will have 24 hours to respond.

He then ordered that Metuh be remanded at the Kuje Prison in Abuja until January 19 when the properly written application for bail will be considered.