The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has hailed an Abuja Federal High Court verdict sentencing the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Mr Olisa Metuh to seven years imprisonment for laundering the sum of N400m.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Centre and signed by its Coordinator for Research and Documentation Mr. Okechukwu Ndiribe on behalf of the Executive Chairman Mr Debo Adeniran.
The CACOL boss praised Justice Okon Abang for exhibiting courage in the delivery of the verdict despite the various tricks deployed by the defendant to delay his trial.
According to him: âThe conviction and sentencing of Olisa Metuh who was the spokesman of the former ruling party is another clear signal that  corruption in high places can no longer be condoned in our society especially in the face of the widespread  deprivation  which the masses of this country have been subjected to by corrupt elites.â
He continued: âIt was clear that Metuh was afraid for his fate for as long as the trial lasted hence his penchant for resorting to diversionary tactics like appearing in court on stretcher to curry public sympathy.
âIt is noteworthy that Metuh could not convince the court about the nature of the special assignment which necessitated the transfer of the said N400m to him from the Office of the former National  Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.)â.
The CACOL boss further stated that Metuhâs conviction should serve as a deterrent to all public office holders to desist from lining their pockets with public funds as the day of reckoning could come sooner than they expected.
He also called for speedy trial of the former Dasuki and all other public officers currently standing trial over sundry corruption offences.