Olisa Metuh Released on Bail

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Olisa Metuh has been released on bail. Mr Metuh walked out of Kuje Prisons on Thursday afternoon after meeting the bail conditions given to him by the court. A Federal High Court had on Wednesday, varied the bail conditions given to Mr Olisa Metuh. Justice Okon Abang, signed his release warrant, upon being satisfied with the verification of the details of the two sureties provided by the accused and the title documents of the property owned by the sureties. The verification exercise was done by the Chief Registrar of the court with the involvement of the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, whom the judge directed must verify the residential addresses of the two sureties. A court official confirmed to our correspondent that Metuh met the bail conditions and presented the necessary documents just before the close of work on Thursday. Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, changed his earlier order that the sureties must be property owners in the Maitama area of Abuja only to an order that the two sureties must be owners of properties in any area of the Federal Capital Territory. He, however, retained the sum of bail which he put at 400 million Naira. Justice Abang declined the request of the prosecution, who asked the court to expunge him as part of the verification exercise of the bail conditions on the ground that it is not in his place to make orders for the court. Mr Metuh is accused of receiving the sum of N400 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, without a contract, contrary to the Money Laundering Act. Mr Metuh, is also accused of converting the said money to funds for political activities of the Peoples Democratic Party. Mr Metuh was arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at his home on January 5.