THE Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday varied the bail conditions granted to the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.

Metuh’s counsel, Emeka Etiaba, had prayed the court to vary the bail condition on ground that the defendant was finding it difficult to meet them.

Justice Okon Abang, in his ruling, granted part of Metuh’s application for variation of the bail conditions giving him some relief.

According to the ruling of the trial judge,  Metuh would no longer be required to produce two sureties who must have property strictly in the Maitama area of Abuja.
While the bail sum of N400 million and other attached conditions stand, Metuh’s proposed sureties, who the court insisted must be resident in Abuja, can now be owners of properties with valid titled documents in any district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The court, however, rejected an aspect of the application directing the prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, to within 24 hours of being notified, verify the addresses of the proposed sureties and the certificates of occupancy of the property to be presented by them.
Since his remand, prison officials have always produced Metuh in court in handcuffs, not exempting his appearances before an Abuja High Court, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), subsequently charged him for destruction of evidence.

Following the variation of the bail conditions, Metuh will be remanded in Kuje Prison until he meets the new bail conditions.

Metuh is being prosecuted along with his company at the Federal High Court for money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in November 2014.