The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the conviction of a former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, on money laundering and corruption charges.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had in a judgment delivered on the 25th of February, this year, found a former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, guilty of money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and subsequently sentenced him to 7 years in custodial facility. Justice Abang also ordered the forfeiture of the monies in Chief Metuh’s company to the Federal Government.
Not satisfied with the judgment of the trial court, Chief Metuh filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal on the grounds of bias and lack of fair hearing. Delivering judgment, the Chairman of the 3- man panel of Justices, Justice Stephen Adah, agreed with the appellant that the judgment was tainted with bias.
Justice Adah therefore ordered that the trial be conducted afresh. He directed that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge other than Justice Abang.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the appellant, Chief Emeka Etiaba, cited some pages of the trial court judgment that were biased and lauded the decision of the appellate court.
Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, said his next line of action would be based on the decisions of the appellant.Chief.
Chief Metuh has spent 10 months in custodial facility before the nullification of his conviction.
