Detained National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh, has been unable to meet the bail conditions set by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

This was disclosed to Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court on Monday by Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

Justice Abang had said the court would not entertain any unnecessary adjournment in the course of his trial.

Metuh is facing criminal charges of money laundering involving the sum of N400 million which he allegedly collected from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki in November 2014.

Justice Abang stated this yesterday when he ruled on an adjournment sought by Metuh for the cross-examination of two witnesses brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as it opened its case against the PDP scribe.

The trial judge held that the prosecution had filed and served all the bank statements and other relevant documents on Metuh, saying that nothing will frustrate the trial.

Abang said: “This court is a court of summary trial, and we are here to do justice as required. All the processes needed for the trial have been filed and served on the defendant long before now.

“I adjourned this matter for trial to commence today (Monday) and nothing will frustrate the trial; if the defence counsel has no question to ask the witness, the prosecution shall proceed to call the other witnesses because there is no material before this court to justify an adjournment,” he held.

Ikpeazu had told the judge that since Metuh had been unable to meet the bail conditions granted him on January 16, the defence had filed an application for variation of the terms.

He urged the court to adjourn the proceedings, noting that the inability of his client to meet the bail conditions had had an adverse effect on his preparation for the defence.

The prosecution, led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application for adjournment and his objection was upheld by the judge.

The trial was adjourned till tomorrow for the prosecution to call more witnesses.

At yesterday’s proceedings, a witness brought by the EFCC to testify against Metuh, told the court how she collected a total sum of $2 million cash from Metuh at his residence in Prince and Princess Estate in Abuja.

The witness, an employee of Assets and Resource Management Company Limited (ARM), Nneka Nicole Ararume, who described her position with the company as Wealth Manager, said the instruction given to her by Metuh was that the money should be invested.

Ararume explained that she went ahead to change the money to its naira equivalent through two Bureaux De Change (BDC) operators she engaged.

According to her, “Metuh gave me the sum of $2 million in $100 bills. It was taken to bureaux de change operators who would then transfer the money to ARM. From there (Metuh’s house) I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2 where I gave him the sum of $1m.

“I also invited Mr. Kabir Mohammed and I also gave him the sum of $1m to transfer the naira equivalent in favour of Destra Investment Limited. Later on the same day, December 2, 2014, Mr. Kabir and Mr. Sie Iyenome confirmed the receipt.” (The Authority)

•Photo shows a prison official adjusting Olisa Metuh’s handcuffs . . . yesterday in Abuja.

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