No bail as court sends Metuh back to prison

Ishaq Bello, a justice of the federal high court, has ordered that Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), be remanded in Kuje prison.

Bello gave the order in a ruling on a fresh two-count charge bordering on destruction of evidence, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed against him on Thursday, two days after he was granted bail in the sum of N400m and two sureties with properties in Maitama area of Abuja.

The anti-graft agency accused Metuh of destroying a statement he made during investigation, an allegation he denied, and pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him in court.

After pleading not guilty to the charges, Sylvanus Tahir, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court for more time to enable his team present evidence against Metuh.

But, Onyechi Ikpeazu, Metuh’s counsel, told the court that he had an application for bail and implored the judge to hear it.

In his ruling, Bello asked the agency to produce three witnesses at the next sitting.

He also promised to communicate to both parties if the bail application would be heard on Friday or on Monday.

“I shall communicate to both parties if the bail application will be possible tomorrow,” he said.

He also ordered that Metuh, who is yet to fulfill his bail condition in the previous case, be remanded in prison and adjourned the case till February 26.

Metuh, who has been very critical of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, has maintained innocence and described his trial as a witch-hunt.