The defence of the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh just commenced at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Metuh is standing trial for charges bordering on money laundering and corruption.
The PDP spokesman was accused by the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, of receiving the sum of N400m from the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuku (rtd.) which was part of funds meant for the procurement of arms for the military fighting insurgency in the north east.
Metuh has, however, maintained his innocence saying the money he received was used for campaign publicity of the PDP during the last general election.
During his trial, some of the prosecution witnesses told the court that the former NSA paid the sum of N400m into one Destra Investment Limited, a company the embattled spokesman has stake in.
Following the conclusion of testimonies from the witnesses, the justice Abang Okon led court had initially fixed March 17 for Metuh to open his defence but the matter was adjourned till today at the instance of the defence lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, who urged the court to set a new date because he had to carry out an eye surgery.
Justice Abang held that the matter will commence today unfailingly.
At the last hearing of the matter, a mild drama, however, occurred as Metuh through one of his counsels, Emeka Etiaba wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, requesting that the trial judge be changed, stating a number of reasons.
Acknowledging the receipt of the petition, Justice Abang insisted that he will continue to precide over the matter until the Chief judge makes his decision.
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