Olisa Metuh, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, how he spent N400 million traced to him as proceed of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
His testimony were contained in a statement released by EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade.
Metuh is being prosecuted by the EFCC, for allegedly receiving N400million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, in 2014 to run advocacy campaign for former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Metuh, while testifying before Justice Okon Abang, said “We leased an office through the late Chief Tony Anene, amounting to N25million.
“He requested for cash payment and over N21million was made in cheque in his name and delivered to him. The office was fully furnished with state -of–the-art-computers, internet facility, two brand new generators and staff had 24-hours access to the office daily”.
He further revealed that N37million was used for media engagements and meetings with editors in Nigeria, adding that expenditures on analysts, content developers, core staff and support staff hired for the purpose of the assignment amounted to N13million, “while CNC connect one of the consulting firms came to N7million”, he said.
He also revealed that workshops and perception management campaign cost N23million and that N10million was spent on new media, while the production of materials, appearances on radio and other media services gulped N15million.
According to Metuh who is the first defendant in the matter, the cost of security, transportation, hotel allowances amongst others amounted to N47million.
He said that the total amount spent in the South- south zone was N55million, while the Northern zone, handled by the late Tony Anenih amounted to N97million with an additional N1.4million which was used for procurement of public address systems.
Metuh further told the court that the amount spent in the South-east region amounted to N40.4million, while honorarium for different recruited persons cost N200, 000 each adding that there were 57 of them.
While concluding his witness, Metuh said that a total sum of N421million was expended on supposed national assignment, as contained in exhibits before the court.
While being led in evidence, the defendant denied making any payment through one Nneka Ararume (staff of ARM Pension) to Kabiru Ibrahim, a Bureau De Change operator. This was in response to the allegation that he gave $1m to the BDC operator for the purpose of investment. Both had testified as prosecution witnesses before today’s trial.
“I did not make any payment of $1m to Kabiru Ibrahim through Nneka Ararume. Ararume has never acted as my agent in this transaction or any other, she is a staff of ARM”, he added.
Justice Abang there after adjourned the matter to June10 and 11, for cross-examination of the witness.
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