Dasukigate: Metuh Arraigned on Fresh Charges
Olaoluwa Folalu
The embattled National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh was on Thursday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a fresh two-count charge bordering on destruction of document.
He was arraigned before Justice Ishaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, for allegedly attempting to destroy the confessional statement he volunteered while being quizzed by operatives of the EFCC.
One of the fresh charges filed on January 18, 2016 reads:
“Olisa Metuh on the 5th day of January 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory destroyed a document, to wit: a statement made under caution to investigators/operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the 5th of January 2016, with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence in a court of law.”
The offence is punishable under Section 166 of the Penal Code Cap 532 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (Abuja) 2004.
Metuh who was brought to the court from Kuje Prison, by officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Responding, Metuh’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, prayed the court to grant the accused bail, taking into consideration the punishment which does not exceed two years.
Justice Bello, while ordering Metuh to be remanded in prison custody, adjourned the matter to January 25, 2016 for hearing on the bail application.
He however, noted that, both parties would be communicated on the possibility of hearing the bail application on January 22, 2016.
His trial is expected to commence on February 26, 2016.
It would be recalled that, Metuh is also standing trial on a seven-count charge brought against him by the anti graft agency before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, for allegedly receiving N400 million from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
