High profile corruption trial: Olisa Metuh and the alleged N400m fraud

Chief Olisa Metuh was a spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is standing trial over an alleged diversion of N400 million collected from the office of the NSA.

The sum was said to be part of the arms money to which former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) is standing trial.

Chief Metuh was arraigned in 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The case is at defence stage and the former PDP spokesman is expected to continue his defence when the court resumes from vacation.

As trial of the former PDP National Publicity Secretary, continued on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, Metuh told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, how he spent an alleged N400 million traced to him as proceed of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to Metuh, while testifying before Justice Okon Abang, he said:

“We leased an office through the late Chief Tony Anenih amounting to N25 million. He requested for cash payment and over N21 million was made in cheque in his name and delivered to him.”

He further revealed that N37 million was used for media engagements and meetings with editors in Nigeria, adding that expenditures on analysts, content developers, core staff and support staff hired for the purpose of the assignment amounted to N13 million, “while CNC Connect, one of the consulting firms, came to N7million”, he said.

He also revealed that workshops and perception management campaign cost N23 million and that N10 million was spent on new media, while the production of materials, appearances on radio and other media services gulped N15 million.

According to Metuh who is the first defendant in the matter, the cost of security, transportation, hotel allowances amongst others amounted to N47 million.

He said that the total amount spent in the South – South zone was N55 million, while the Northern zone, handled by the late Tony Anenih amounted to N97 million with an additional N1.4 million which was used for procurement of public address system.

Metuh further told the court that the amount spent in the South – East region amounted to N40.4 million, while honorarium for different recruited persons cost N200,000 each adding that there were 57 of them.

While concluding his defence, Metuh said that a total sum of N421 million was expended on supposed national assignment as contained in the exhibits before the court.

Metuh, however, on Tuesday, September 24th, 2019, insisted that the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice O.E. Abang should invite former President Goodluck Jonathan to give evidence in his ongoing trial.

Metuh while on cross-examination said: “The payment of N400 million was made by the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”

Justice Abang adjourned the matter to Thursday, September 26, 2019, for the conclusion of arguments and admissibility of documents and for the continuation of trial.

It will also on the new adjournment date consider the need to further adjourn the matter to September 30, October 2, 3, and 4, 2019, for the continuation of trial.

Justice Ishaq Bello, on Thursday, October 17, 2019, turned down a no case application made by Metuh and ordered Metuh to enter defence in respect of the prima facie case already established against him by the prosecution.

According to Justice Bello, “the view of this court is that the application for a no case submission is lacking in merit. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday November 27, 2019, adjourned till February 25, 2020 for judgement in the case involving the former national publicity secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.

He is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged money laundering to the tune of N400 million.

Prosecution Counsel, Silvanus Tahir and his defence counterpart, AC Oziokwu, who represents the first defendant, Metuh, adopted their final written addresses.

The Defence Counsel, while adopting his final written address, asked the Court to discharge his client as the allegations against him were not proved.

Arguing likewise, Tochukwu Onwugbufor, SAN, Counsel to the second defendant, Destra Investment, said the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against the company.

However, Tahir urged the Court to convict the defendants as the allegations against them have been proved beyond reasonable doubt.

[A Publication of Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA)]

NB: The publication covers corruption cases as at 22nd of November, 2019.

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High profile corruption trial: Dasuki & the diverted $2.1 billion arms fund