Olisa Metuh’s case not struck out – EFCC

Glory Ebomah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has debunked reports that the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday struck out a suit the commission filed against former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh.

Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said Metuh’s case is presently pending before the Supreme Court, arising from the appeal by the Commission, as well as his own cross-appeal, upon the judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the judgment of the trial court on alleged grounds of bias.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to some reports in the media, alleging that, the Federal High Court, FHC, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, September 26, 2022, “struck out a suit filed by the Commission against former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, for retrial.  

“We wish to state unequivocally that, there is no modicum of truth in those reports.  Metuh’s case is presently pending before the Supreme Court, arising from the appeal by the Commission, as well as his own cross-appeal, upon the judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the judgment of the trial court on alleged grounds of bias.  There is, therefore, no pending case before the Federal High Court to warrant striking out of the same.

“It bears reiterating that the EFCC, has no fresh application for retrial of Metuh before the court. There can be no striking out of a suit that was not initiated or filed before the court.  Any report of striking out of a suit filed by the EFCC on Metuh, is a gross misrepresentation of the status of the case and the public is enjoined to ignore such reports,” he said in a statement on Monday, 26 September 2022.

He added that the EFCC is awaiting the judgment of the apex court, against the discharge of Metuh, by the Court of Appeal, in the N400 million money laundering charges instituted against him.  The Commission will do nothing to abuse the processes of the court, as it remains committed to total respect for the rule of law.