Dr. Olugbumi Usim-Wilson has filed an application to withdraw as a surety to Olisa Metuh, a former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, spokesman, in the latter’s ongoing trial for alleged money laundering.
Usin-Wilson at the resumed trial of Metuh at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday tendered his application before Justice Okon Abang.
He prayed the court to remove her name from the list of people standing as sureties to Metuh.
But Metuh, in a swift reaction, filed an application, praying the court to allow him replace Usim-Wilson with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Counsel to Usim-Wilson, Clement Chinaka, urged the court to hear the application for withdrawal first and not the one for replacement.
Metuh’ Counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), observed that if the application for withdrawal was taken before that of replacement, his client might risk going back to prisons.
Ikpeazu, therefore, urged the court to use its discretion in the matter.
Abang ruled that the court would take the application of Metuh first since he had been consistent in his trial.
The judge thereafter adjourned the case till October 27 for hearing of both applications.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had filed a seven-count charge of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering against Metuh.
EFCC said he received N400 million from the former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, believed to be part of a $2.1 billion meant for arms procurement allegedly diverted by the last administration.
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