The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the indictments delivered against the former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, for money laundering.
Justice Abang had in his judgment delivered on February 25, 2020, sentenced Metuh to seven years’ imprisonment for fraudulently receiving N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser then being headed by Col Sambo Dasuki.
A three-man panel led by Justice Stephen Adah held in a unanimous judgment delivered, on Wednesday, that, Dasuki not being charged as a co-defendant in the case or given any opportunity to defend himself, the comments made against Dasuki were unwarranted.
The panel set aside Metuh’s conviction on the grounds of bias shown by the trial judge Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court.
It, therefore, ordered that the trial be conducted afresh.
Justice Abang 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.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Metuh on seven counts of money laundering for allegedly receiving N400 million from the office of the national security adviser.
