Metuh takes fresh plea to amended charges

Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday took a fresh plea in an amended seven-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

After Tahir Sylvanus, counsel to the EFCC, and Onyechi Ikpeazu, counsel to Metuh, had announced their appearances before Justice Okon Abang of the federal high court, Abuja, the prosecution informed the court of an amended charge it filed on February 16.

Tahir prayed the court to direct Metuh to take a fresh plea to the amended charges.

“It is a very harmless and innocuous charge. It has not altered the original charge,” he said.

“We merely doted the I’s and crossed the T’s. We urge your lord to ask the defendant to take a fresh plea.”

Abang thereafter ruled that Metuh must take a fresh plea.

Last week, the prosecution closed its case after presenting eight witnesses in the trial against Metuh.

The defence was to open its case on Thursday before the prosecution informed the court of an amended charge.

Ikpeazu told the court that he had filed a no-case submission, implying that there was no substance in the case of the prosecution.

He urged the court to accept the application, and without any objection from the prosecution, Abang allowed the application.

He adjourned the matter to February 25 for adoption and argument of the application.

The PDP spokesman is facing a seven-count of charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

He maintains he is innocent of the charges, and that he only received the sum of N400m from the office of the former national security adviser to carry out media campaigns for the presidency.