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Tag: Olisa Metuh

“I Can No Longer Play Partisan Politics” – Olisa Metuh Dumps PDP
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh has resigned from the main opposition party.
In a letter to PDP The National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, Metuh said being a member of the PDP or any political party won’t allow him to “work for the strategic interest and well-being of the Nigerian people”.
“During my three weeks trip for medical and personal reasons, I came to the realization that I can no longer play partisan politics in Nigeria.
“The reason for this decision is that from my experience and the nature of politics and development in Nigeria, I believe that I will contribute more to Democracy and good governance in Nigeria by being non-partisan.
“Being Non-Partisan gives me the status to work for the strategic interest and well-being of the Nigerian people without the hinderance of partisanship.
“In that regard, I write respectfully, to formally inform you of my resignation from the PDP and cessation of partisan politics,” the letter partly read.
“Any future participation in politics will only be limited to non-partisan involvements in areas of sustaining and deepening democracy and governance in Nigerian and at the global level.”
He urged Ayu to “insist on issue-based engagement in our political space as the country cannot afford the bitterness and divisions that may arise otherwise”
October 26, 2022
Court Strikes out Money Laundering Charge Against Olisa Metuh
A seven-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh and his firm, Destra Investment Ltd, has been struck out by a federal high court sitting in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite struck out the lawsuit on Monday September 26, after listening to arguments from the prosecution and the defendants’ lawyers.
The judge stated that it was of no use keeping the charge in his court’s docket when the prosecution and defendants have appeals pending at the Supreme Court.
Nwite who described the retention of the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2022 as “an abuse of court process,” held that there was no way the case could return to his court without the Supreme Court first deciding the appeals by parties in the charge.
September 26, 2022
Olisa Metuh released from Kuje Custodial Centre
A former Spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, has been released from Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre.
He was released on Thursday after the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja nullified the seven-year jail sentence handed down to him.
The appellate court had in its ruling, held that Okon Abang, the trial judge of a federal high court in Abuja, exhibited bias in Metuh’s case.
The trial court had on February 25, 2020, pronounced Olisa Metuh guilty on all counts of money laundering and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Metuh on seven count of money laundering for allegedly receiving N400 million from the office of the national security adviser under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
December 25, 2020
JUST IN: Court nullifies Metuh’s conviction, orders fresh trial
The Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside the conviction and seven years jail term imposed on a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, after finding him guilty of money laundering charges.
A three-man panel led by Justice Stephen Adah in a unanimous judgment, delivered on Wednesday, held that the proceedings of the Federal High Court leading to the conviction of Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, were tainted with bias, and therefore must not be allowed to stand.
Justice Adah who delivered the lead judgment, held that the utterances of the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in the course of the trial, established that he was biased against the convicts.
He, therefore, ordered that trial be conducted afresh.
He directed that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge other than Justice Abang.
Justice Abang had in his judgment delivered on February 25, 2020 sentenced Metuh to seven years’ imprisonment for fraudulently receiving N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser then being headed by Col Sambo Dasuki.
December 16, 2020