A Federal High Court in Abuja will today, Tuesday, February 25, deliver judgment in the trial of former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, over allegations of diversion of arms funds from the office of the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Ltd were in 2016 charged on seven counts of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after he allegedly received the sum of N400m arms fund from Dasuki.
Justice Okon Abang had fixed the date for judgment after the prosecution and the defence lawyers made their closing arguments on November 26, 2019.
Metuh through his counsel, Abel Ozioko, however, claimed that the funds were duly approved by the office of the then president, Goodluck Jonathan, and paid through the NSA to publicize the good works of the government ahead of the general elections between 2014 and 2015.
Earlier, The Herald reported that the Federal High Court, Abuja, admitted in evidence, the final account tendered by Olisa Metuh, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Metuh tendered the document on Tuesday at the resumed hearing, detailing how the sum of the N400 million for which he is standing trial, was spent on a special national assignment.
Metuh who was led in evidence by his counsel, Mr Abel Ozioko submitted that the money was used for a special national assignment given to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The court also admitted in evidence, media publications where, in response to Metuh’s arrest and arraignment in 2016, the leadership of the PDP affirmed that the PDP did not in any way benefit from the fund.
This, he said was contrary to allegations that it was used for political activities of the party. The documents were admitted and marked as exhibits 21 and 22.
Metuh had earlier tendered a document detailing disbursements, names and signatures of individuals who received funds in execution of the national assignment which was admitted and marked as exhibit 20.
He told the court that no part of the N400 million was spent on any activity of the PDP, contrary to the claims of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ( EFCC).
He said that his record of account and receipts of payments showed that the entire fund was used for the national assignment as directed by President Jonathan.
