Barely 24 hours after Olisa Metuh lost his bid at the Abuja division of the Appeal Court to halt his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court, his family said the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is prepared and willing to refund the money allegedly paid into his bank account by the Office of the Security Adviser (ONSA).

This disclosure was made yesterday in a statement signed by Chief Gilbert Metuh on behalf of the family.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on charges including fraudulent collection of N400 million from the ONSA in November 2014 and using same for PDP’s presidential campaign. He pleaded not guilty.

While claiming that their son is innocent of the charges, the family said the decision to make the refund was informed by the precarious state of health of the erstwhile PDP spokesman.

The family said several overtures made by Metuh to refund the money since his arrest were rebuffed by EFCC.

The family said: “It is instructive that out of over 300 names listed as having received money from the ONSA, all those who offered to refund money were not arraigned in court. Our son is the only one whose offer to refund money was rejected and has been arraigned in court and his case given accelerated hearing. On each trial date the hostility in the courtroom is palpable.

“As we speak, the offer to refund the money to the Federal Government is still open and the government is yet to accept the offer. It is therefore clear to us that the intention is not the recovery of funds but a clear persecution of our son.”

The family which described Metuh’s trial as political persecution expressed consternation over the rejection of his prayer to be allowed to travel abroad to attend to his failing health. They further argued that certain individuals facing similar trial were allowed to travel abroad on health grounds.”

“Our son was diagnosed with a spinal cord problem in 2004. He has consistently managed it over this period. However, due to the treatments he received while in custody, the situation got aggravated. In the course of his trial, the situation deteriorated, especially after he fell at a meeting in the party office for which he was rushed to the National Hospital and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.

Notwithstanding the grave medical condition, he still kept his court date the very next morning in spite of medical advice by the doctors.

“On another such occasion, he vomited in court and had to be rushed back to the hospital where he is lying critically ill.

“Upon doctors’ recommendation, our son made application to be granted leave and his international passport released for him to travel to a recommended neurological hospital in London for immediate, critical delicate corrective surgery to save him from imminent irreversible paralysis.

“We are, therefore, shocked that with all the information available to the court regarding his grave medical condition and the critical need for him to have this corrective surgery, the Federal High Court, Abuja, refused his application. It is also instructive to note that the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the same day granted leave to someone facing similar trial to go abroad for one month for prayers while our ailing son is not allowed to travel for urgent medical attention. We are also aware that a few others facing similar trials, within the same federal high court jurisdiction, have been granted leave to travel for medical treatment and their passports released to them by the same court where they were granted bail.

“It is absurd that the main reason given by the court for refusing the application is that there are several teaching hospitals in Nigeria that can handle such critical spinal problems, especially as this dramatic claim by the trial Judge has no medical basis whatsoever.

“This is clearly one of the tactics being used by the court in an attempt to whip up public sentiments against our son in this courtroom media trial more so when it is judicial notice that even public officers are allowed to travel abroad on ordinary medical check-up and at public expense.

“Our request is on the basis of a life-threatening ailment and will be undertaken with our own private resources.

“Sadly, as we speak, our son is lying on admission at the National Hospital where his spinal ailment is fast deteriorating and doctors fearing the worse for his life. He currently relies on palliatives being given to him at the National Hospital Abuja waiting for the opportunity of a corrective surgery.

“The essence of a criminal trial is to achieve justice and no justice can be achieved if someone dies in the process. We feel more convinced that this is a political vendetta considering the fact of his efforts to pay back the money if it came from government coffers not minding that the money has been expended as directed by the former President.”


http://sunnewsonline.com/metuh-family-ready-to-refund-n400m/

But people are saying buhari is witch hunting PDP that the people arrested by EFCC has not stolen any money nah. KAII ILLITERACY

600M bail bond

400M Refund ready


One Billion in total


And some erdyots will keep defending Jonathan led PDP


these are the people who sponsor and benefit from terrorism

Better

If it takes him paying the money, let him do it. God will vindicate him if he is indeed innocent.

DaBullIT:
600M bail bond

400M Refund ready


One Billion in total


And some erdyots will keep defending Jonathan led PDP


these are the people who sponsor and benefit from terrorism

If u ask me... Na who I go ask?

Scape goat that ate our yam

You no go escape this

ibkgab001:
Scape goat that ate our yam

You no go escape this

Tell him Oooo. Tot they said it was a witchunt.... Why are they refunding. Maybe he is afraid of going to jail.

Taeewo:
Better

All our yam eaters will not go unpunished. They are the reason why our economy is in crisis and we are suffering it today.

Amaechi no go refund him own smh.

If that money was sitting in a bank account, it would have generated compund interest so they should be refunding N400 million + interest

But this man said no money was shared initially

This people don fail Wailers hand

Pidggin:
If it takes him paying the money, let him do it. God will vindicate him if he is indeed innocent.

This one is still stylishly defending the criminal. Why are you people so wicked and want the downfall of this country cos of hatred for the President. Dont you have shame?

I think the reason they might still not release him even after he pays the 400m is that the EFCC believes he took more.
Nevertheless we know of a Buhari associate who was let off the hook after returning part of his loot. I think Metuh should be granted the same courtesy.
I don't think the government has the resources to chase every case to its logical end.
Let's get back the money, put it to good use and find ways of preventing future acts of corruption.

h

Pidggin:
If it takes him paying the money, let him do it. God will vindicate him if he is indeed innocent.

Even as the family has rightly confirmed the fraud, you are still here talking of been innocent? Ok, read this:

"The family said: “It is instructive that out of over 300 names listed as having received money from the ONSA, all those who offered to refund money were not arraigned in court. Our son is the only one whose offer to refund money was rejected and has been arraigned in court and his case given accelerated hearing."

Do you refund the money you never received?
Please, let's put aside sentiments and come together to deal with whoever has looted our common wealth...thanks!

bad news to wailers

actually he was offered a chance to refund the money just like others but he refused saying he "rather starve than refund 400 million"


Now new has changed his mind when he sees that the case is going badly for him

EFFC has right to take proceed with prosecution or make a deal. He was offered one and he refused.

odiks:


All our yam eaters will not go unpunished. They are the reason why our economy is in crisis and we are suffering it today.

Please stop lying against Olisa Metuselah, he did not steal any money. The FG has been shouting that the government is broke. Because Olisa Metuselah is a patriotic Nigeria, Olisa now wants to give Nigeria some subvention in form of loan to help the country. The money that Olisa wants to give/loan Nigeria is the money that his great grandfather made from slave trade and human trafficking. So, all Nigerians should be grateful to Olisa Metuselah for wanting to help us our of economic depression.

Benikuuse:
But people are saying buhari is witch hunting PDP that the people arrested by EFCC has not stolen any money nah. KAII ILLITERACY

You don/t know the definition of witch hunt. When several people commit similar offence but you choose to target a few, it is witch hunt.

PFRB:


You don't know the definition of witch hunt. When several people commit similar offence but you choose to target a few, it is witch hunt.

Please can you define wizard hunt? Also, what is the definition of Stealing? Oh! I remember, Stealing is not Corruption (GEJ -2015)

simpleseyi:



Please stop lying against Olisa Metuselah, he did not steal any money. The FG has been shouting that the government is broke. Because Olisa Metuselah is a patriotic Nigeria, Olisa now wants to give Nigeria some subvention in form of loan to help the country. The money that Olisa wants to give/loan Nigeria is the money that his great grandfather made from slave trade and human trafficking. So, all Nigerians should be grateful to Olisa Metuselah for wanting to help us our of economic depression.

Yes oh. You are right

we will not take it
it's witch hunt
take me to court
I will not return any money
I was paid for an assignment
I will not tell you the assignment
I know you for my secondary school in 1884
you will cheat me
I am sick, I wan travel, if I no travel, I fit die
abeg, na your money be this, make we settle the matter, kuje no worth make I keep 400m
pls return our 400m +interest.

bigboss80s:
I think the reason they might still not release him even after he pays the 400m is that the EFCC believes he took more.
Nevertheless we know of a Buhari associate who was let off the hook after returning part of his loot. I think Metuh should be granted the same courtesy.
I don't think the government has the resources to chase every case to its logical end.
Let's get back the money, put it to good use and find ways of preventing future acts of corruption.

since when did they tell metuh to return the money? Instead he started chewing paper, mhen una guy no smart at all.

OlujobaSamuel:
we will not take it
it's witch hunt
take me to court
I will not return any money
I was paid for an assignment
I will not tell you the assignment
I know you for my secondary school in 1884
you will cheat me
I am sick, I wan travel, if I no travel, I fit die
abeg, na your money be this, make we settle the matter, kuje no worth make I keep 400m
pls return our 400m +interest.

In orubebe voice you know

In court the same DSS/EFCC said he did not chew any paper.

A very good morning to boss, I'm sorry to have disturbed you,but you have to help me now.

The Mr nairaland contest is on,as a matter of fact,today is going to be the semi finals and I need you to help me vote Falconey. I am writing you because I am trusting You.

the link to the voting thread is

https://www.nairaland.com/3265483/mr-nairaland-contest-2016-semi-final

voting starts 10am- 6pm

the voting format is "" I vote falconey Cc; NLjega"


Thanks so much Boss.