A defence witness in the ongoing trial of former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, Richard Ihediwa, on Thursday said Metuh gave a former Chairman of the party, Chief Tony Anenih N21m to acquire a property on the orders of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Testifying before a High Court in Abuja, Ihediwa claimed that Jonathan directed Metuh on how to disburse N400m he got from the party.
Led in evidence by Metuh’s lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, SAN, Ihediwa explained that the property was acquired for use by the party as its media intervention centre.
Stressing that the said property located in Asokoro, Abuja, did not belong to Anenih, Ihediwa said the former PDP Chairman only assisted in securing it for the use of PDP’s media team, headed by Metuh.
He said, “The amount covered the cost of hiring the structure, utility vehicles as well as security gadgets at the centre.’’
Ihediwa said the various sums were paid to some groups coordinated by some government functionaries, including late Oronto Douglas and Mallam Abbah Dabo, adding that he was not very certain about the amount released to the late Douglas.
He, however, revealed that N25 million was released to Dabo as mobilization for advocacy groups, in line with Jonathan’s directive.
Ihediwa said the former president also approved different amounts for some other groups and Metuh disbursed the funds to them accordingly.
The witness, had last week told the court that Metuh, solely funded the party’s publicity activities during Jonathan’s re-election campaign.
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