FG closes case against Metuh
Wed Feb 10, 2016 01:37:pm National
2.9K By sosa hills
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has closed its case against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh.
The case was closed after the eighth prosecution witness, Mr. Junaid Said, an investigative officer with the EFCC described before the court how Metuh destroyed his statement during investigation by the anti graft agency.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also told the court how the sum of N766 million representing N400 million and N366 million that were paid into his Destra Company was shared.
The said N10 billion was converted into dollars which amounted to $47 million was given to the ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan and his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to share to PDP members for the presidential convention.
A detective at the EFCC, Junaid Sa'ad, who was testifying in the trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Metuh, said the $2 million which the PDP spokesman gave to Nneka Ararume is strongly linked to the $47 million which was shared among party members by Dasuki.
"In the course of investigation, it was revealed that the former NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki withdrew N10 billion from Central Bank and converted same into dollars which amounted to $47 million and gave the money to the ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan and his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to share to PDP members for the presidential convention. The $2 million given to Nneka Ararume by Metuh is strongly linked to that disbursement.
"The $47 million which was converted on November 27, 2014 and shared out to PDP members for presidential convention. Just four days after the money was converted, was when Metuh gave the $2 million to Miss Ararume to invest.
Asked under cross examination whether there was any document on the withdrawal of the N10 billion by Dasuki, the witness said documents for the withdrawal are part of the other charges to be preferred against Dasuki.
He added that about N77.5 million was allegedly paid to one CMC Connect for campaign publicity for the PDP while N25 million was given to one Abba Dabo for the same purpose.
The witness also told the court that the National Women Leader of the PDP, Kema Chikwe got N5 million from the said money, while the chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, received the sum of N21.7 million.
He also told Justice Obong Abang that the sum of N500million was paid in two tranches to a company, Daniel Ford International, by Metuh for the purchase of a landed property at Banana Island in Lagos State.
Under cross examination, however, the witness told the court that investigation revealed that the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), had on November 27, 2014, made a N10 billion withdrawal from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and converted same to $47 million which was shared to PDP members at its national convention .
According to him, the $2million allegedly laundered by the PDP spokesperson was strongly linked to the said withdrawal because it was four days after the disbursement that Metuh gave the money to his then wealth manager Nneka Ararume.
But when asked if there was any documentary evidence to substantiate his testimony, the witness answered in the negative.
Metuh is expected to open his case on February 18, 2016.
The case was closed after the eighth prosecution witness, Mr. Junaid Said, an investigative officer with the EFCC described before the court how Metuh destroyed his statement during investigation by the anti graft agency.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also told the court how the sum of N766 million representing N400 million and N366 million that were paid into his Destra Company was shared.
The said N10 billion was converted into dollars which amounted to $47 million was given to the ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan and his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to share to PDP members for the presidential convention.
A detective at the EFCC, Junaid Sa'ad, who was testifying in the trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Metuh, said the $2 million which the PDP spokesman gave to Nneka Ararume is strongly linked to the $47 million which was shared among party members by Dasuki.
"In the course of investigation, it was revealed that the former NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki withdrew N10 billion from Central Bank and converted same into dollars which amounted to $47 million and gave the money to the ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan and his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to share to PDP members for the presidential convention. The $2 million given to Nneka Ararume by Metuh is strongly linked to that disbursement.
"The $47 million which was converted on November 27, 2014 and shared out to PDP members for presidential convention. Just four days after the money was converted, was when Metuh gave the $2 million to Miss Ararume to invest.
Asked under cross examination whether there was any document on the withdrawal of the N10 billion by Dasuki, the witness said documents for the withdrawal are part of the other charges to be preferred against Dasuki.
He added that about N77.5 million was allegedly paid to one CMC Connect for campaign publicity for the PDP while N25 million was given to one Abba Dabo for the same purpose.
The witness also told the court that the National Women Leader of the PDP, Kema Chikwe got N5 million from the said money, while the chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, received the sum of N21.7 million.
He also told Justice Obong Abang that the sum of N500million was paid in two tranches to a company, Daniel Ford International, by Metuh for the purchase of a landed property at Banana Island in Lagos State.
Under cross examination, however, the witness told the court that investigation revealed that the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), had on November 27, 2014, made a N10 billion withdrawal from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and converted same to $47 million which was shared to PDP members at its national convention .
According to him, the $2million allegedly laundered by the PDP spokesperson was strongly linked to the said withdrawal because it was four days after the disbursement that Metuh gave the money to his then wealth manager Nneka Ararume.
But when asked if there was any documentary evidence to substantiate his testimony, the witness answered in the negative.
Metuh is expected to open his case on February 18, 2016.
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