The Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday fixed October 14 for the arraignment of former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh over alleged N400 million fraud.
Mr Metuh’s retrial could not proceed due to the absence of Justice Obiora Egwuatu. All the parties in the matter including Metuh were in court.
The former PDP spokesman faces retrial after the Court of Appeal in Abuja on December 16, 2020, nullified a Federal High Court judgement that convicted and sentenced Metuh to seven years imprisonment for money laundering.
In a unanimous decision, a three-man panel of the appellate court held that the judgment of Justice Okon Abang delivered against Metuh on February 25, 2020, was tainted with bias.
The appellate court held that Abang had by disparaging remarks he made in the judgement betrayed his premeditated mindset against the defendant (Metuh) whom he accused of writing various petitions against him.
According to Justice Stephen Adah who delivered the lead verdict of the appellate court, allowing the trial court’s verdict to stand “will set a dangerous precedent.”
The appeal court also voided the order for Metuh’s company Destra Investment Limited to be wound up.
Metuh was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of receiving the sum of N400 million from the former national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), prior to the 2015 presidential election, without contract approval or execution.
