EFCC Closes Case Against Olisah Metuh

   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday closes its case against the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party 9PDP), Olisa Metuh.

 Mr Metuh was arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged N400m fraud before Justice Okon Abang. While the trial lasts, a witness of the EFCC, Junaidu Sa’id, disclosed at The Court how $47million was withdrawn from the CBN and disbursed to members of the PDP including Metuh for the purpose of the party’s presidential campaign.

 Sa’id who happen to be an investigative officer with the anti-graft agency, was led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that the commission in the course of investigation discovered how the office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki’s leadership withdrew $47million for the purpose of the campaign activities of the PDP.

 Sa’id further said, “It was at the period that Dasuki withdrew $47million from the CBN which was shared to members of the party for the presidential convention that the commission traced the $2million paid to Desta Investment company belonging to Metuh.”

“It was four days after the disbursement that Metuh gave the money to his then wealth manager, Nneka Nicole Ararume.” Under cross examination by the lawyer to Metuh, Onyechi Ikpeazu 9SAN), the witness said that Metuh had written in his statement that the money 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 N77.5 million was allegedly paid to one CMC Connect for campaign publicity for the PDP while N25million was given to Abba Dabo for the same purpose. He also told the Court that the National Woman Leader of the PDP, Kema Chikwe, got N5million from the said money while the chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, received N21.7million.

He aso told Justice Obong Abang that N500million was paid in two tranches to a firm, Daniel Ford International, by Metuh for purchase of a landed property at Banana Island in Lagos State.

The witness said that investigations revealed that Dasuki had on November 27, 2014,made a N10nillion withdrawal from the CBN and converted same to $47million which was shared to some PDP party members at its national convention.