#Dasukigate: PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh to remain in Kuje prison till Tuesday Jan 19.

PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh

 Spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh has been remanded in Kuje prison, where he will be until his application for bail is considered on Tuesday, January 19.

The embattled spokesperson and his company, Destra Investments Limited, were today docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice O.E Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a 7-count charge bordering on money laundering, an offence punishable under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 (as amended).

Metuh is alleged to have received N400m (Four hundred million naira) from embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) from funds meant for arms procurement.

Former NSA, Sambo Dasuki

He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him and the prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, thereafter urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial. He also prayed the court to order the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending the trial.

Counsel to the defence, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, however, prayed the court to discountenance the application of the prosecution stating that it is “illegal and unconstitutional” to remand the defendant in prison.

While opposing the motion for bail, Tahir noted that “the defence has not filed a written bail application”.

Responding, Ikpeazu, said that the case was a summary trial and that, the notice for arraignment was filed and served “few hours to the arraignment as opposed to the stipulated 7 days notice” thereby giving them little or no time to prepare a formal application.

“The court can use its discretion to grant the defendant bail, irrespective of whether the application was oral or formal. We refer my Lord to the case of Abiola vs FRN,” he said.

After listening to both counsel, Justice Abang posited that “the fact of the case of Abiola vs FRN is different from the fact of this case and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 was not enacted when the case was decided”.

He consequently, refused the accused bail and ordered the defence counsel to file and serve the bail application to the prosecution within 5 hours adding that the prosecution should respond within 24 hours.

Adjourning the case to January 19, 2016 for the hearing of arguments on the bail application, he ordered that the Metuh be remanded in prison custody.