The National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who is being tried for money laundering and unlawfully receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, has been granted bail by an Abuja court.

Metuh was granted bail by Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday after a plea was made to the court by Chris Uche, Metuh’s counsel.

The PDP spokesman is also to produce two sureties in the sum of N200 million each and they must have landed property of equal sum at Maitaima area of Abuja. The judge also ruled that the ownership of the property should be verified by the court registrar and the prosecution counsel.

In granting the defence counsel’s application for bail, Justice Abang dismissed the argument of counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sylvester Tahir, that the defendant may tamper with evidence if released on bail given his reported attempt to swallow his statement while in the custody of the anti graft agency.

The judge, who noted that the offences for which the defendant was accused are bailable, said that that granting of bail is at the discretion of the court and that such discretion is usually based on facts.

The Judge, however, refused Uche’s prayer that the court issue an order preventing the EFCC from re-arresting his client after fulfilling the conditions of his bail.

Giving further details of the bail conditions, the judge ruled that the sureties who should be be resident in Abuja must provide three years tax clearance certificate, two passport photographs and sear an affidavit of means.

The judge rejected the request by the defence counsel that he should allow sureties with properties in other highbrow areas of Abuja and adjourned the matter to 25 January for hearing.