ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. An Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions, EFCC, witness, Junaidu Sa’id, yesterday, told Justice Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, how $47 million was withdrawn from Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and disbursed to members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, including the embattled National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, for the purpose of the party’s presidential campaign.
Sa’id, an investigative officer with the anti-graft agency, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that EFCC, in the course of investigation, discovered how the office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki’s leadership withdrew the $47 million for the purpose of the campaign activities of the PDP.
He said: “It was at that period that Dasuki withdrew the sum of $47 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria, which was shared to members of the party for the presidential convention. The commission was able to trace $2 million paid to Destra Investment Company, belonging to Metuh. “It was four days after the disbursements that Chief Metuh gave the money to his then Wealth Manager, Nneka Nicole Ararume.”
Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, the witness said Metuh had written in his statement that the monies he received from the office of the former NSA was for campaign activities as approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan and for the payment of his personal debt. He added that about N77.5 million was allegedly paid to one CMC Connect for PDP’s campaign publicity, while N25 million was given to one Abba Dabo for the same purpose.
He also told the court that National Women Leader of the party, Kema Chikwe, got N5 million from the said money while the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih, received N21.7 million. He also told Justice Abang that N500 million 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. The witness said investigations revealed that the former NSA had on November 27, 2014, made a N10 billion withdrawal from the CBN and converted same to $47 million, which was shared to some PDP party members at its national convention.
“The $2 million allegedly laundered by the PDP spokesman is strongly linked to the said withdrawal. “Out of the N400 million that was fraudulently transferred to Mr. Metuh and his company by the former NSA, the accused person kept N50 million for himself,” he added. When asked if there was any documentary evidence to substantiate his testimony, the witness said there was none because the whole transaction was based on physical cash.
After his testimony, Tahir said the prosecution was closing its case. This was the 8th witness that testified for the prosecution since the trial started. They had earlier told the court that they had about 18 witnesses.
The trial judge, who had earlier admitted all the documentary evidence, adjourned the case till February 18 for the defence to open its case. It would be recalled that EFCC in the charge against Metuh, who was arraigned along a firm, Destra Investments Ltd., alleged that he received N400 million, part of the money meant for the procurement of arms, from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.
Credit: National Mirror (Nigeria)
