The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has allegedly traced a sum of N1.4 billion to the account of a company believed to be owned by National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh.
According to reports, the company named as Destra Investment Limited received the sum of N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on November 24, 2014, when there was no record of any project executed by it for the ONSA.
It was further gathered that the company had a balance of N6.67 million by November 24, 2014, but this sum rose to N1.4 billion by last December.
The News quoting unnamed EFCC sources reports that the company was used to fund PDP’s activities, including its 2015 campaign.
Funds that flowed into Destra’s account were explained thus: N400 million from the Office of National Security Adviser on November 24, 2014; N253 million from one unidentified Ibrahim Kabiru on December 2 and 4, 2014; and N91 million from Capital Field Investment on December 2, 2014.
A source in the EFCC told The News: “We will invite Metuh any moment from now for clarifications on some of these transactions in this firm, which he allegedly owns.
“By December 2015, the owner of Destra had a turnover of over N1.4billion. There is no document to show that the company executed any job for ONSA. All companies engaged by ONSA appeared before the initial Special Investigative Panel raised by the Presidency.
“Other documents indicated that Metuh was allegedly on a monthly unexplained stipend of N4million cash from ONSA.
“Out of the funds in Destra account, N25million was paid to Abba Dabo, a former Senior Special Assistant Political to former Vice President Namadi Sambo on the 16th of December 2014.
“Also, about N21,776,000 was remitted on 4th December 2014 to an account allegedly belonging to a former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih; N31.5million to his media aide and N50 million to Metuh/Kanayo on the same transaction date.
“We have also established a link between Capital Field Investment and SEI Societe d’equipments Internanaux-Niamey-Niger BP 11737 which was hired by ONSA to purchase €3,654,121million security vehicles for the Republic of Niger in October 2013 and April 2014.”
But in a swift reaction, Chief Olisa Metuh has dared the anti-graft body to invite him for questioning as he was prepared to honour their invitation, The News reported.
While describing the media reports indicting him without hearing his side of the story as “one-sided prosecution”, he reiterated his readiness to honour any invitation by the EFCC when the body was ready for serious investigation and not mere smear campaigns.
“I don’t know whether they are investigating the company I have interest in or my office as the National Publicity Secretary of PDP. Whichever one, my hands are very clean in this matter. I am ready to honour their invitation.
“I have not done anything unlawful. Whatever I have done in pursuance of my office, I can defend it anywhere, any time,” he said.