National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, was yesterday granted bail to the tune of N300 million with two sureties in like sum over a two-count criminal charge bordering on his alleged destruction of evidence against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleged that Metuh who is also facing another seven-count criminal charge before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, tore and attempted to chew a confessional statement he made under caution while undergoing interrogation.
The anti-graft agency insisted that the said statement would have been vital to his prosecution of the criminal case pending against the defendant before the Federal High Court.
It, therefore, argued that Metuh, by his action, committed an offence contrary to sections 166 and 326 of the Penal Code Act.
The PDP spokesman who pleaded not guilty to the charge, yesterday, prayed the court to release him on bail pending the determination of the case against him.
Ruling on the application, Justice Ishaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, noted that the defendant was charged with a bailable offence.
”I am satisfied that the oral application of the defendant succeeds, accordingly, he is granted bail in the sum of N300million with two sureties in the like sum, whose places of abode must be verified for easy access,” the Judge held.
Justice Bello had on the day Metuh was arraigned before him, queried why the EFCC failed to incorporate the current charge to the one already pending before the FHC.
Metuh had been granted bail in the first charge to the tune of N400 million, the same amount he is standing trial over. By the time he fulfills the current bail conditions, he would have paid N700 million, almost double the amount over which he was arraigned.
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