In a unanimous judgment delivered on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, a three-man panel led by
Justice Stephen Adah ruled that Metuh’s conviction by
Justice Okong Abang was tainted with bias, and therefore must not be allowed to stand.
Justice Adah held that the utterances of Justice Abang in the course of the trial in February established that he was biased against Metuh.
He, therefore, upturned the judgement of the lower court and ordered the trial to be reconducted.
Reading the court’s decision, Justice Adah said,
“The narrative of the trial judge suggest someone who didn’t enjoy trying the appellant and counsel because he said they were picking on him.
3 min read
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Wednesday, nullified the seven-year jail sentence handed a former spokesman of the
The court held that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja was biased in handling the case of the former PDP spokesman.
Mr Metuh, who held sway under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, was prosecuted by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, alongside his company, Destra Investment, on a seven-count charge of diversion of illegal monies received from Sambo Dasuki, an ex-National Security Adviser.
The former spokesman was also accused of transacting with the sum of $2 million without going through a financial institution, in violation of a provision of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
Appeal Court upturns Metuh, firm conviction, orders retrial thenationonlineng.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenationonlineng.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Ade Adesomoju, Abuja
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the conviction and seven years jail term imposed on a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, after finding him guilty of money laundering charges.
A three-man panel led by Justice Stephen Adah in a unanimous judgment, delivered on Wednesday, held that the proceedings of the Federal High Court leading to the conviction of Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, were tainted with bias, and therefore must not be allowed to stand.
Justice Adah, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the utterances of the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in the course of the trial, established that he was biased against the convicts.
Appeal Court Nullifies Dasuki’s Indictment
A three-person panel led by Justice Stephen Adah held in a unanimous judgment delivered, on Wednesday, that the Federal High Court made damaging comments against Dasuki without giving him a fair hearing.
by SaharaReporters, New York
Dec 16, 2020
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the indictments delivered against the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, in a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which convicted and sentenced a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, for money laundering.
A three-person panel led by Justice Stephen Adah held in a unanimous judgment delivered, on Wednesday, that the Federal High Court made damaging comments against Dasuki without giving him a fair hearing.