The Federal High Court
on Thursday in Abuja granted Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of the
PDP, leave to file a no-case-submission on charges of money laundering
preferred against him.
Metuh is standing
trial for allegedly receiving the sum of 2 million dollars (about N400 million)
from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Ruling on the
defendant's intention to file the application, Justice Abang Okon held that it
was Metuh's right to do so.
``I have heard and
distilled the oral application seeking leave of the Court for the defendant to
approach it with a no-case-submission.
``This falls within
the purview of the Court's practice direction on criminal matters such as this.
``The amended
Administration of Criminal Justice Act is also amenable to this kind of
procedure; it is hereby granted.
``I therefore order
Counsel to the defendant to file the process today and the prosecuting counsel
is given three days within which to file his reply.
``As with the
practice, counsel to the defendant is given another one day to reply on point
of law.
``February 25 is
therefore reserved for the adoption of the written addresses,'' Abang held.
Earlier, Mr Sylvanus
Tahir, the prosecuting counsel, had sought the leave of the Court to file an
amended version of the charge.
Tahir, who assured the
court and defence team that the amendment made to the charge did not affect the
thrust of the charge, said only two words were required to be changed.
After granting the
prayer, Metuh was re-arraigned for the Court to take his fresh plea and he
pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge.
The judge re-admitted
him to the existing bail.
After the slight
drama, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), counsel to Metuh notified the court of his
client was interested in filing a no-case-submission.
Ikpeazu said the
application hinged on Sections 302, 303 and 357 of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The prosecution team
did not raise objections to the application.
Credit: NAN
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