Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja, how he got N400million from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, before the 2015 presidential election.
Metuh is facing trial alongside his firm, Destra Investment Ltd, for allegedly receiving N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, prior to the 2015 presidential election, without executing any contract.
Metuh who was in the witness box to testify in defence of the charge against him told the court that former President Goodluck Jonathan requested for his account number, after he watched a presentation on strategies the PDP needed to adopt if it was to neutralize the political influence of the then opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, which had nominated General Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential flag-bearer.
According to Metuh among those that watched the Powerpoint presentation with Jonathan, included the current Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi. Others were the then Vice President, Namadi Sambo, then National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, ex-Cross River State Governor, Mr. Liyel Imoke and a late chieftain of the party, Chief Tony Anenih.
According to Metuh,President Jonathan was highly impressed with the presentation and assured that the party was in good financial standing to sponsor a favourable media campaign.
He said: “He requested that I should give him account details for him to send money to handle what he called special assignment. He said the success of the assignment would go a long way in determining the survival of our democracy, especially the holding of a peaceful election.
“The President also directed his aides, Reuben Abati, Doyin Okupe and Oronto Douglas, to work directly with me under the supervision of Chief Anenih.
“As we got to the car park, the National Chairman told me that since the President was comfortable with my proposal for the media campaign, he said I should come to his house with my bill, together with the National Financial Secretary.
Continuing, he said: “The President later told me that he had paid N400million to my account and that I should start the assignment immediately.
“I thanked him and I directed Mr. Sam Ben, my Executive Assistant to call my account officer. We asked her whether I had N400m inflow into my account,”
On whether or not he knows the source of the money, Metuh said: “I know the payment came from the President as a leader of the the party and with assurances of the funds that he personally raised from his friends.
“It is normal that the leader or candidate in an election spends money and contributions that are mostly made directly to him. I had knowledge that the leader of the party informed me that he made the payment of N400m into my account”, Metuh insisted.
Meanwhile, EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court to compel Metuh to close his defence, alleging that Metuh was deliberately stalling proceedings.
“When proceeding drags longer like this, it is bound to cause problems. The first defendant has been in the witness box since the July 2018, and between then and now, the court has adjourned consecutively for uncountable number of days and the man is still in the witness box today saying “irrelevant stories” that has no bearing to the charge against him.
” They must bring it to closureas promised because there must be an end to evidence,” Tahir alleged further
The trial Justice Okon Abang has since adjourned further hearing on the matter to March 4.
