The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief OLISA METUH, has secured bail over a two count-charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.METUH was arraigned yesterday for the second time within one week on charges of destruction of evidence and property of the EFCC, to which he pleaded not guilty.In securing the bail, the defence counsel, ONYECHI IKPEAZU prayed the court to be lenient in its discretion in granting his client bail on self-recognition.The senior lawyer submitted that OLISA METUH is presumed innocent under the law until proven guilty by the court.Although counsel to the EFCC, SYLVANUS TAHIR, did not object to the bail application, he asked the court to attach conditions that would compel METUH to be present in court for his trial.In his ruling, Justice ISHAQ BELLO of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory granting the accused person bail in the sum of three hundred million naira and two sureties in like sum.If convicted on the two-count charge of destruction of evidence and property of the EFCC, OLISA METUH could face a maximum jail term of two years.The PDP spokesman is also facing seven counts of money laundering and fraud before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for which he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of four hundred million naira.He was also asked to produce two sureties who must be owners of property within Abuja and deposit a bail bond of two hundred million naira each.METUH was yet to fulfill the first bail conditions when he was brought to court and re-arraigned on the second set of two-count charge.In his appearances, officers at the Kuje Prisons where METUH is on remand had brought the PDP spokesman to court in handcuffs.
