Embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, got bittersweet news on Friday as a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) granted him bail at N600 million.
The party has however stated in very clear terms that the accused is on his own.
Metuh was arraigned before Justice Ishaq Bello on Thursday on a two-count charge of destroying the statement he made to operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Before his arraignment at the FCT High Court on Thursday, Metuh had earlier been arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court on a seven-count charge of money laundering.
The judge has since granted Metuh bail at N400m and two sureties, who must have houses in the highbrow Maitama, Abuja.
Metuh is yet to meet the conditions attached to the bail granted him by the Federal High Court.
Justice Bello of the FCT High Court on Friday took argument on Metuh’s bail application.
Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), while making oral application for his client’s bail, relied on the provisions of sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 as well as sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.
Lead prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, did not object to the bail application.
Ruling, the judge agreed with the defence that the offences the accused was charged with were bailable and that he was presumed innocent until proved guilty.
Trial in the case is expected to open on February 26.
Metuh was driven back to the Kuje Prisons, Abuja pending when he is able to perfect all the bail conditions.
Speaking with Punch, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, said, “Metuh didn’t represent the party in the alleged crimes he’s being prosecuted. The party didn’t benefit from the alleged crime.
“So, he is going to look for sureties himself. We won’t be involved. He would carry his own cross alone, without the party being involved.”
The party had earlier in January dissociated itself from the trial of members charged for corruption.
It said in a statement:“They are said to have received funds using accounts of their private companies without the knowledge and instructions of any organ of the party.
“All those mentioned in the ongoing corruption trial are, therefore, on their own and the party was not involved financially or in any way with the office of the national security adviser, ONSA, or any organ of the federal government in the last regime.
“They must bear full responsibility for their actions and must henceforth refrain from dragging the name of the party into the mud.”
