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Court Annuls Metuh Conviction, Orders Fresh Trial
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has cancelled the sentencing of Olisa Metuh, a former spokesperson of the (PDP) to seven years in prison.
Eko Hot Blog recalls that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court had in February sentenced Metuh to seven years imprisonment for fraudulently receiving N400 million from the office of the then National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retired).
But in bizarre twist of event on Wednesday, three-man panel of the court led by Justice Stephen Adah in a unanimous judgment annuled the verdict of the trial court.
The panel in its ruling averred that the manner with which the Federal High Court went about prosecution and subsequent conviction of Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, was mired in prejudice and subjectivity.
In view of the above, the panel submitted that trial and the conviction can’t stand, hence its annulment.
Delivering the lead judgment on Adah disclosed that the remarks of the presiding judge, Abang, in the course of the trial, showed that the defendants didn’t get a fair hearing.
Adah added that it was established that Abang personal bias towards Metuh coloured his judgment during the trial.
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Adah also instructed that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
The Appellate Court, therefore, ordered that a fresh trial be conducted.
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