The trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, started this morning in Abuja, with the opposition party’s spokesman requesting for a variation of his bail conditions.

However, because the prosecution was just served, the trial judge, Justice Abang Obong, deferred hearing on the issue to January 27.

But the judge declined to adjourn the trial, asking the first prosecution witness to testify.

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had last Friday granted Metuh bail in the sum of N300 million and two sureties in like sum in a case of alleged destruction of the statement he earlier made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In the ruling, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, stressed that the sureties must be resident in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

Metuh also has a N300 million bail in the main case, which is a seven-count charge of alleged criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows Oilsa Metuh, handcuffed, during one of his court appearances last week in Abuja.