Court to rule on FG’s request for revocation of Metuh’s bail Thursday

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja will on Thursday, decide whether or not to revoke the bail granted the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, who is facing a seven-count charge before the court.

The court fixed today to rule on the application by the Federal Government, praying the court to revoke the bail it granted Metuh, after taking arguments on the application from parties in the matter.

The Federal Government had,  through his counsel, Sylvanus Tahir told the court to also commit Metuh to prison custody until the conclusion of the criminal charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

The court will also rule on the application by Metuh’s counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), praying the court to vacate the days left in the week, that were earlier slated for the trial and to adjourn the matter to a date that will be convenient to the court.

Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited are being prosecuted for allegedly receiving the N400 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (rtd) and used same for political activities of the PDP in the 2015 general elections.

The former PDP spokesman was absent in court for his trial on Monday, Tuesday and yesterday and it was on that basis that Tahir asked the court to revoke the bail it earlier granted Metuh,

According to him, “In view of the fact that the first defendant has been absent from court on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the inexplicable reason, he has taken steps which undermines or jeopardises the objectives and purpose of the bail granted him by the court”.

“We vehemently opposed to the application for adjournment and therefore urged the court to revoke the bail of the first defendant and commit him to prison until the conclusion of his trial, for his inexplicable absence from the court for his trial. He will be attending his trial from the prison if our application is granted”, he said.

In his response, Ikpeazu said the court has taken judicial notice that the letter came from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and signed by Dr Ekwuogwu O. C, adding that, by virtue of Section 102 of the Evidence Act, the said letter is a public document that emanated from a government body.

Ikpeazu, in his submission, told the court that the prosecution’s application for the revocation of the bail of the first defendant should have come by way of motion on notice.

He said the prosecution has not filed a motion for the revocation of the bail and that nothing is placed before the court on why the bail granted Metuh should be revoked and urged the court to discountenance the oral application of the prosecution for been premature and unsubstantiated

Justice Abang, after listening to submissions of parties, adjourned the matter till today for ruling on both applications.