At a time when he is yet to fulfill the N400m bail condition granted him since Tuesday by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja, embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh has, in a different suit, been granted bail in a total sum of N600m.
This time round, the bail was granted by Justice Ishaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with respect to the two counts charge Metuh is facing for allegedly destroying evidence while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for investigation into the money laundering case.
The PDP spokesman is already on remand in Kuje Prison following an order of a Federal High Court in Abuja with respect to charges of money laundering involving N400m as part of money meant for procurement of arms, which he collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.
Justice Bello, before who Metuh was arraigned yesterday on a two-count charge, granted him bail in the sum of N300m with two sureties in like sum. He further ordered that the residences of the two sureties to be presented by the accused should be verified by filing of documents in that respect before the court.
While presenting the oral bail application on Friday, Metuh’s lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN anchored the application on provisions of sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 as well as sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution. This application for bail was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir.
The judge in his ruling agreed with the defence lawyer that bail can be granted for the offences for which the accused was charged. He equally agreed with the Senior Advocate that an accused is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
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