N400m Fraud: Olisa Metuh Loses Surety As Usim-wilson Withdraws  

BEVERLY HILLS, October 17, (THEWILL) – Dr Olugbumi Usim-Wilson has filed an application to withdraw as a surety to Olisa Metuh, former Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is standing trial for alleged money laundering.

Usin-Wilson's made this known at the resumed trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday , in an application dated Oct. 4, before Justice Okon Abang, asking the court to remove her name from the list of people standing as sureties to Metuh.

However, Metuh, in swift reaction filed an application, dated Oct. 14, requesting that the Court allows him replace Usim-Wilson with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Counsel to the applicant, Clement Chinaka, urged the court to hear the application for withdrawal first and not the one for replacement.

However, Metuh' Counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), observed that if the application for withdrawal was taken before that of replacement, his client might risk going back to prisons and urged the court to use its discretion in the matter.

Justice Abang, in a short ruling, held that the court would take the application of Metuh first since he had been consistent in his trial and thereafter adjourned the case till Oct. 27 for hearing of both applications.

THEWILL recalls that the EFCC had filed a seven-count charge of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering against Metuh.

The EFCC accuse him of receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, believed to be part of a $2.1 billion meant for arms procurement allegedly diverted by Dasuki.

Story by Oputah David