Kingsley Kanayo
The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh was on Thursday arraigned by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a fresh two-count-charge of destroying the evidence against him.
Metuh, who was docked before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama on a two-count charge bordering on his alleged destruction of evidence against him, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Metuh was for the second time brought to court in handcuffs.
Metuh however denied allegation that he destroyed a confessional statement he made before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
EFCC, in the charge which was signed by its Assistant Director, Legal & Prosecution Department, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, alleged that the PDP spokesman who is also facing another seven-count criminal charge before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, tore and attempted to chew the statement he made under caution while undergoing interrogation.
The anti-graft agency insisted that the destroyed statement would have been vital to its prosecution of the N400m fraud case pending against Metuh before the Federal High Court.
It said that Metuh, by his action, committed an offence contrary to sections 166 and 326 of the Penal Code Act.
Meanwhile, for the second time, authorities of the Kuje prison, yesterday, brought Metuh to court in handcuffs. Shortly after the defendant entered his plea, trial Justice Ishaq Bello adjourned hearing on his bail application till Monday.
Metuh had through his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, applied to be released on bail pending the determination of the charge against him.
Ikpeazu contended that the allegation against his client is a bailable one.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Tahir, while indicating his intention to oppose Metuh’s bail request, stressed that the charge levelled against him attracts two years imprisonment upon his conviction.
The EFCC lawyer equally told the court that the commission has already lined up three witnesses to testify against the defendant.
While adjourning hearing on the bail application, Justice Bello queried why the EFCC failed to incorporate the current charge to the one already pending before the FHC.
Part of the charge that was preferred against Metuh read, “That you, Olisa Metuh in January 2016 while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, attempted to destroy evidence to prevent its production in court during trial contrary to Section 1 of the Panel Code.
“That you Olisa Metuh, with intent to cause damage to the property of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, tore into pieces statement you made under caution contrary to section 326 of the panel code and punishable under Section 327 of the same code”.
It will be recalled that Justice Abang had on Tuesday, granted Metuh bail to the tune of N400million.
The court however ordered that he should be remanded at Kuje Prison pending when he is able to perfect all the bail conditions.
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