EFCC wants Metuh’s case dismissed

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division to dismiss the appeal case filed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Metuh, urging the court to dismiss the criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
The anti-graft agency claimed that the appeal case of the PDP spokesperson was not competent and not arguable because due process of law was not followed before the case was instituted.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Mr. Silvanus Tahir, objected to Metuh’s case on two major reasons and prayed the court to dismiss it for lacking in merit.
Tahir claimed that what Metuh brought to court was on interlocutor decision and since Metuh failed to obtain the leave of the court before filling the Appeal case, the case had been made incompetent and unarguable for reasons that due process of the law was not followed.
Metuh had approached the Court of Appeal, asking it to set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja which had last month held that he (Metuh) has a case to answer in the N400 million corruption charge brought against him by the federal government.
Justice Abang in the ruling on the no case submission made by Metuh had ordered him to open his defence in the criminal matter on the ground that prima facie case had been established against him in the criminal charge by the prosecution.
Metuh, in the Appeal filed by his counsel, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), urged the appellate court to hold that the EFCC that prosecuted Metuh failed to establish a nexus linking him to the said offence.
He said that from the totality of the evidence adduced by the prosecution to the point of closing its case, Metuh was not linked with ingredients of the alleged fraud and, therefore, asked the Court of Appeal to set him free.
Justice Abdul Aboki, who presided over a three-man panel of the Appeal Court justices, reserved judgement after taking arguments from counsels involved in the case.
Justice Aboki said that parties in the suit would be communicated as soon as the judgement is ready.