Armsgate : Metuh to commence his defence today

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh is expected to
open his defence today at the Federal High Court
Abuja.
Metuh is standing trial for charges bordering on
money laundering and corruption.
The PDP spokesman was accused by the Economic
and Financial Commission, EFCC, of receiving the
sum of N400m from the former National Security
Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuku (rtd.) which was
part of funds meant for the procurement of arms
for the military fighting insurgency in the north
east.
Metuh has, however, maintained his innocence
saying the money he received was used for
campaign publicity of the PDP during the last
general election.
During his trial, some of the prosecution witnesses
told the court that the former NSA paid the sum of
N400m into one Destra Investment Limited, a
company the embattled spokesman has stake in.
Following the conclusion of testimonies from the
witnesses, the justice Abang Okon led court had
initially fixed March 17 for Metuh to open his
defence but the matter was adjourned till today at
the instance of the defence lead counsel, Onyechi
Ikpeazu, SAN, who urged the court to set a new
date because he had to carryout an eye surgery.
Justice Abang held that the matter will commence
today unfailingly.
At the last hearing of the matter, a mild drama,
however, occurred as Metuh through one of his
counsels, Emeka Etiaba wrote to the Chief Judge of
the Federal High Court requesting that the trial
judge be changed, stating a number of reasons.
Acknowledging the receipt of the petition, Justice
Abang insisted that he will continue to precide over
the matter until the Chief judge makes his decision.