Miringa said: “The team interviewed him in respect of the case after which I instructed Saed to give the defendant the EFCC statement forms for the him to put all that was discussed in writing
Browsing: Barrister Olisa Metuh
Abang adjourned the case till July 7 after the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), said he had no objection to the application.
Metuh is standing trial on a seven-count charge of alleged corruption filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Metuh was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission over alleged fraud of N400 million alongside his company, Destra Investment Limited
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, disclosed this when he received the former Chairman of the National Patriotic Party of Ghana, Peter Manu, at the party’s national secretariat on Friday in Abuja
The statement said Basharu was suspended after preliminary hearing on reports of his various activities inimical to the progress of the party, especially flouting the provisions of article 58 (1), (b), (c), (f) and (h) of the PDP Constitution.
Metuh, on Friday, brought a new counsel, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), to represent his company, Destra Investment Limited.
The counsel had through an application sought for an adjournment to enable him formalize his appearance as he needed to be properly briefed by the former counsel, Emeka Etiaba (SAN)
His witness, Ike Abonyi, told the court that it was former President Goodluck Jonathan that directed Metuh to send his corporate account details to a former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, for the funds to be released to him
The money was said to have been given to Metuh by a former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.
Metuh’s two applications dismissed were the ones asking the judge to disqualify himself from further presiding over the trial and another one seeking an adjournment sine dine pending when the appeal at the Court of Appeal will be heard
The statement added: “Similarly, the NWC further clarifies that the Hon. Vitalis Okafor-led state caretaker committee is completely in charge of the affairs of the party at the state level, while being answerable to the NWC
The second application sought for adjournment to enable the Court of Appeal rule on his application for stay of proceedings in his trial.
At the last hearing on March 17, 2016, Metuh’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), through another counsel in the matter, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), wrote to the court asking for adjournment to enable him go for medical treatment
“Immediately the defence applies for record of proceedings, my staff worked tirelessly to produce the copy for the defence counsel.”
The judge said it was on record that the case had enjoyed three adjournments in favour of Metuh.
It stated that there was no valid reason for the shift, except that the PDP and its candidates were more popular and set to sweep the polls.
Metuh, however, said PDP members and supporters “are fully mobilised and ready for the elections. It is obvious that we are winning; the people are with us.”
He held: “When the first defendant knew that on November 24, 2014 the sum of N400 million was paid into his Diamond Bank Account, why didn’t he ask the bank about the source of the funds?
He has been accused of being part of those who benefitted from the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the battle against the Boko Haram insurgency by the military in the North East of the country
He said the petition was from the office of the National Security Adviser, which alleged that the office, transferred N400 million to Destra Investment Limited, a company owned by Metuh, when retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki was the NSA
“In the circumstance, the court can only rule if the motion fails and if the motion succeeds the court can only deliver judgment,” he said
He said if the motion fails, the defendants would open their cases, but if they succeed, it means striking out the charges and discharging and acquitting the defendants
He said in the statement: “In view of requests by critical stakeholders and leaders of our great party, the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the shifting of the meetings of key statutory organs of the party earlier scheduled for this week to next week
He was accused of collecting N400 million out of the money from a former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki
Consequently, he was admitted to bail on January 15, 2016 in the sum of N400 million and two sureties in the sum of N200 million each.
Each of the sureties must have landed properties in Maitama, Abuja and must provide three years tax clearance
Testifying as prosecution witness (PW3), Bali Ndam, a civil servant and legal officer in the Office of the National Security Adviser, told the court how the ONSA wrote a letter to the EFCC requesting the Commission to investigate some payments made for contracts that were never executed