Former national publicity secretary of the PDP says he received the N400 million traced to him as alleged proceeds of money laundering from the former President.
Olisa Metuh
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the N400m alleged money laundering was paid to him by former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
He, therefore, denied that it was given to him by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Metuh explained that Jonathan paid him the money to execute some National assignment for the Federal Government.
Giving evidence on behalf of his company, Dextra Investment Ltd which is the second defendant in the suit and the account where the N400m was paid into, the ex-spokesperson of the PDP told Justice Okon Abang that he could not consider the money for act of any unlawful purpose because it came from the then president.
Metuh recalled that he held a meeting with Jonathan where various issues and challenges facing the country were discussed and, it was on the basis that Jonathan made the N400m available to him to carry out the national assignment.
Further, that the money could not have been for an unlawful purpose because he was helping and contributing to stabilizing the then government because then-president Jonathan was elected on the PDP platform.
Metuh specifically dismissed allegations that the money was channelled to him through Dasuki. “I did not receive any money from Col. Sambo Dasuki. Dasuki represents one of the finest and most brilliant military officers ever produced in the Nigerian military. He has had a distinguished career, served a lot of government and finally served as National Security Adviser for this country, under former president Jonathan.
“Up till May 29, 2015, no individual or group had ever questioned Dasiki’s integrity not to talk of been charged or arrested for any unlawful act. I am not aware of any criminal charge against Dasuki or any unlawful act until we lost government in 2015.
“As I am talking on oath before this court now, I can say categorically that Dasuki has not been interrogated, charged or convicted for any act relating to me and my company.
“The N400m was paid into my account by the then president and I did not conceal or disguise the money and it was not transferred out of jurisdiction”.
It was on this premise, he also urged the court to take a look into the list of disbursement carried out in cash and in cheques.
Metuh also dismissed the insinuation that the N400 million was meant to fund the PDP. He, however, disclosed that at the period under review, the PDP was rich to the tune of N33bn, with N12bn generated from sales of nomination forms and N21bn raked from fundraising.
But Justice Abang adjourned the matter to June 24, 25 and 26 for further cross-examination.