Former People’s Democratic National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh has been jailed for 7 years by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Tuesday’s Judgement will see the former PDP Spokesperson serve the 7 years imprisonment concurrently.
Justice Abang also ordered Metuh to pay the sum of N366m to the federal government. The judge ordered Metuh’s company, Destra Investment Ltd to pay fine of N25m and ordered that the company should be wound up.
The court rejected Metuh’s claim that the N400 million received from the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki was approved for the 2015 general elections by Former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
Justice Abang held that the former PDP Publicity Secretary could not prove that he was not aware of the transfer from the Office of the National Security Adviser to his bank account.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a seven counts charge against Metuh and his company, Destra Investment for the diversion of the money received from the then National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
“It is my view that Metuh took possession of the N400 million from the office of the NSA without contractual agreement; he is guilty of money laundering and is hereby convicted on count one.” Justice Abang said while delivering his ruling on count one of the charges filed against Metuh.
Metuh’s Arrest in 2016
Metuh, a lawyer turned publicist was arrested by the anti-graft agency on January 5, 2016, for ‘receiving N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser’.
The EFCC alleged that the said sum was received by Metuh, through his company, Destra Investment Limited in the build-up to the 2015 general election. According to the EFCC, the money formed a part of $2.1 billion diverted from a fund earmarked for defence procurement.
However, Metuh denied the allegation, saying his firm was paid for legitimate commerce it entered with the ONSA, which did not complain that service was not rendered.
The Defence And The Theatrics
In the course of the trial, Metuh, through his lawyer, argued that it was wrong for the EFCC to conclude that he ought to have known that the money paid into his account by the Office of the National Security Adviser was meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian Military battling insurgency in the North East.
Metuh was also accused by the anti-graft agency of tearing his written statement in the course of interrogation by operatives of the EFCC.
The four-year-long trial also witnessed some bizarre moments where Metuh appeared in court on wheelchair and hospital bed following repeated appeals to travel abroad got turned down by presiding Judge, Okon Abang.
Justice Abang’s refusal to grant Metuh’s permission to travel abroad despite evidence of his doctor’s readiness to treat him for spinal cord complications reignited allegations that the judge was biased against the defendant.
In 2016, Metuh had said he was classmates with Abang at law school but Justice Abang denied the claim saying he couldn’t recall Metuh’s identity at the Law School.
Attempt to get Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, whom Metuh had claimed authorized the transfer of the money to his company proved abortive as the former President failed to show to testify in court.
