Alleged N400m fraud: S/Court struck out Metuh’s appeal on technical grounds ―Counsel

THE former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, facing money laundering charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday said Supreme Court struck out his appeal on technical grounds.

Metuh, who spoke through his counsel, Barr. Ben Chuks Nwosu, in a statement on Monday, said the Apex Court did not determine his appeal, challenging the dismissal of his no-case submission by Justice Okon Abang, on the merit.

The statement said, “While we welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court on the No Case Submission filed by our client, Chief Olisa Metuh, in his on-going case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, we wish to state for the records that.

“Whereas our client retains the legal right to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision by seeking leave to appeal so that the matter can be heard on its merit, we are more eager to continue with the defence of the substantive suit; as this is the fastest way to prove his innocence.

“However, more important to our client and his family right now is his health challenge and the treatment of his worsening spinal chord ailment. We are following all lawful ways and means to ensure that he receives appropriate medical treatment, especially against the background of recent events that clearly put his life in danger.

“We restate our complete faith in the laws of our land, confident that truth, justice and equity will prevail in the end”, Nwosu said in the statement.

Recalled that the Supreme Court had last week held that the former PDP spokesman faces his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, in the N400 million money laundering charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

A five-member panel of Justices of the apex court , in a composite judgment on the separate appeals brought before the court by Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, unanimously affirmed the May 25, 2016 judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed Metuh’s appeals for being incompetent, and went on to uphold the March 9, 2016 ruling of Justice Abang, which dismissed the Metuh’s no-case submission.

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The EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and his firm, Destra Investments Limited, on seven counts of money laundering involving allegations of receiving N400m fraudulently from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014 and using same to fund the PDP campaigns for the 2015 general elections.