Tag Archives: counsel

Metuh Wrote EFCC, Ready To Return N400m – Counsel

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The immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh’s lead defence counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), has said his client has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he is willing to return the N400m he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November, 2014.

Metuh is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly receiving the money, which the prosecution alleged was collected from the $2.1bn arms funds allegedly diverted by the former NSA’s office to other purposes aside from buying arms to fight insurgency.

The money was said to have been released to him to launder the alleged bad image of former President Goodluck Jonathan a few months to the 2015 presidential election which Jonathan eventually lost.

Metuh lost his bid at the FCT High Court to secure his passport to enable him to travel abroad for a check-up.

Ikpeazu, in a telephone interview on Thursday, said Metuh had always indicated to the EFCC that he was willing to return the money right from when the anti-graft agency invited him for questioning before charges were filed against him.

The lawyer said he advised Metuh after his trial began before a Federal High Court in Abuja to write a letter to the EFCC, indicating his intention to return the N400m, which he stated the former PDP spokesperson heeded.

He insisted that Metuh initially thought the money came from former President Goodluck Jonathan but readily indicated to return the money as soon as the EFCC made him to realise the money was from the ONSA.

Credit: Punch

It Is Risky To Grant Yuguda, Bafarawa, Dasuki Bail – EFCC Counsel Tells Court

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Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) counsel to the EFCC, told an FCT High Court on Wednesday that considering the gravity of the charges against Yuguda, Dasuki, Salisu and other defendants, it was risky to grant them bail.

 

Yuguda, former Minister of state for Finance is standing trial alongside Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) former National Security Adviser (NSA) and Shuaibu Salisu, former Director of Finance in the office of the NSA.

 

Also named as defendants in the case were former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son Sagir Attahiru and their company Dalhatu Investment Limited.

 

They were arraigned by the EFCC on a 22-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds amounting to N19.5 billion.

 

At the resumed hearing of the bail application filed by the defendant lawyers, Jacobs, told the court that going by nature of the charges against them and the proof of evidence, it would be risky to grant them bail.

 

“If they were granted bail, they may not be available to stand trial because the count in the charge attracts 10 years in prison.

 

“The tendency for the accused to jump bail is high,” he said.

 

Jacobs argued that at the time the defendants answered EFCC`s invitation, they were not aware of the gravity of the offences against them.

 

“My lord, granting them bail will send a wrong signal to the public; it is even a risk to release them because many soldiers had died.

 

“Their families feel the pains as a result of the actions of the accused persons because N19.5 billion that was meant to buy arms for soldiers to fight insurgency was diverted, ‘’ he added.

 

Jacobs prayed the court to reject all the submissions canvassed by the defence lawyers as they were not fit enough to stand as cogent reason to warrant bail.

 

He therefore urged the court to refuse the bail application in the interest of justice.

 

In his argument, counsel to Yuguda, Mr Peter Akpe (SAN), said that the offences which his client was standing trial for were bailable.

 

He said that his client was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and he did not jump bail.

 

He therefore urged the court to grant his client bail on most liberal terms.

 

In his submission, counsel to Dasuki, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), said it was discretionary power of a judge to grant bail either on self recognition or in the most liberal terms.

 

He said that the fact that the prosecution had further investigation to carry out should not deny his client bail.

 

He therefore urged the court to grant Dasuki bail in self recognition as it was the case in the Federal High Court, Abuja where he was granted bail on self recognition.

 

On their part, counsel to Bafarawa, his son Sagir and their company Dalhatu Investment Ltd and Salisu unanimously urged the court to admit their clients bail on liberal terms.

 

 

 

(NAN)