SAN FRANCISCO, May 25, (THEWILL) – The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, stressing that he must defend himself in his ongoing trial on seven count charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.
By this, the justices of the Appeal Court affirmed the March 9 ruling of Justice Okon Abang-led Federal High Court dismissing the no case submission filed by Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited after the prosecution finished calling its witnesses.
While recalling the testimony of the various witnesses, a three man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Abdul Aboki said a prima facie case has been established against the National Publicity Secretary of PDP for which he must defend himself.
The justices argued that the integrity of the evidence tendered in court as well as testimony of witnesses have not been discredited by the defence to make their no case submission a valid proposition.
The Court had earlier upheld the preliminary objection of the prosecution that since the appeal is an interlocutory one, the appellants are required under the law, to first obtain the leave of the trial court.
