A Legal Adviser in the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, Mr. Bali Ndam has narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja how the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh came to be charged with money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m from the ONSA in November 2014.
The ONSA official, who appeared before Justice Okon Abang as the third prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, said the incumbent NSA, Babagana Monguno sent a petition dated November 28, 2015 to the anti-graft agency over “payment of contracts without award” to some companies.
The witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, explained that “a list of companies and individuals about 78 in number” was attached to the NSA’s petition to the EFCC.
Ndam said he could “vividly remember” that Metuh’s firm, Dextra Investments Limited, with whom the PDP National Publicity Secretary is standing trial, was among the 78 beneficiaries of the alleged fraudulent payment.
The defence counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) however opposed an attempt by the prosecution to tender the petition and other documents, including the electronic mandate issued by the ONSA to the Controller of the Abuja branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for payments in favour of the 78 beneficiaries.
The prosecution alleged that the N400m from which Metuh was said to have given about N21m to a former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Meanwhile, the court has fixed Wednesday, January 27th, for the hearing of the application for variation of the bail terms, which the defence lawyer said Metuh had labour to meet without success.
The embattled PDP spokesman, as in earlier times, was also produced in court on handcuffs by prison officials on Tuesday. The EFCC is prosecuting him and his company, Dextra Investments Limited on a seven-count charge of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m meant for procurement of arms from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014.
