Justice Okon Abang of
Federal Court on Wednesday partly varied the conditions attached to the bail
granted to Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic
Party who is being tried on charges of money laundering and corruption.
The PDP publicity secretary who was granted bail by Justice Okon
on 19 February had remained in Kuje prison where he was initially remanded
after his first arraignment because of his inability to meet his bail
conditions.
The court had among
others, granted Metuh bail in the sum of N400 million and two sureties at the
sum of N200million each. The Court added that the sureties must own property at
Maitaima area of Abuja.
Also, the court
directed that the prosecution counsel should join in the verification of title
deeds of the property.
They also asked the
court to remove aspect of the conditions stipulating that the prosecution
counsel should join in verification of the title deeds of the property within
24 hours of being informed that the sureties are available.
While ruling on
application, Justice Okon noted that the prosecution counsel failed to oppose
the application as demanded with a written affidavit.
The judge also said
what the defence team asked for amounted to asking a court to review its own
decision. But he noted that the court is also enjoined to do everything possible
to give effects to its order.
Justice Abang said
since the purpose of bail is to give liberty to the defendant to be able to
defend himself, and he has deposed to affidavit that while he has not been able
to get anybody in Maitaima to stand surety for him, he has friends with more
expensive property in other districts of the FCT, the court is compelled to
vary the bail conditions.
“The court, in
varying its earlier condition is not sitting in an appeal, but making an order
to give effects to its earlier condition,” Justice Abang said.
He thereby varied the
second part of the bail conditions to read that the sureties must be resident
of Abuja and own property in any part of FCT. He refused the second prayer of
Metuh’s lawyer that the EFCC counsel should not be given the privilege of
verifying the title deeds of the property.
The Judge said he has
his reasons for making the order and if the defence counsel is dissatisfied
with it, the only option is to go to on appeal.
He however assured
that the court will ensure that the prosecution counsel will not be an obstacle
to the fulfillment of the bail conditions.
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