Chief Metuh, who is standing trial for alleged money laundering, was granted bail on January 19 but remained in detention after failing to meet the terms. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had ordered him to pay N400m (£1.4m) as a bond, in addition to providing two sureties who own properties in the Maitama district of Abuja.
On addition, each surety was also asked to deposit N200m with the court, although on Tuesday, the judge agreed that the sureties could own properties in other areas of Abuja after Chief Metuh had asked the court to vary the terms of his bail. Accused of receiving N400m from former national security adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, Chief Metuh was asked to a bond of the same amount he is under investigation for.
Last night, however, Chief Metuh was finally released from Kuje Prison after fulfilling the bail conditions imposed on him after spending 13 days in detention. He immediately drove to his Abuja home where he had a meal with his family.
He is expected back in court where he will not only face the N400m charges but also another one relating to money laundering involving a $2m cash transaction. These fresh charges were preferred against him and his company, Destra Investments.
Yesterday evening, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, signed his release warrant, upon being satisfied with the verification of the details of the two sureties provided by the accused and the title documents of the property owned by the sureties. The verification exercise was done by the chief registrar of the court and it also involved the prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, who the judge directed must verify the residential addresses of the two sureties.
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