The Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the N400 million project fund which he is facing trial was given to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan and not the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Metuh said the money which led to his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for money laundering charges was given to him by Jonathan to execute some national assignments for the federal government.
Giving evidence on behalf of his company, Dextra Investment Ltd which is the second defendant in the suit and the account where the N400 million was paid into, the former PDP spokesman told Justice Okon Abang that he could not consider the money for the act of any unlawful purpose because it came from the then president.
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Metuh recalled that he held a meeting with Jonathan where various issues and challenges facing the country were discussed, adding that former president Jonathan promised and made the N400 million available to him to carry out the national assignment.
He stressed that the money could not have been for an unlawful purpose because he was helping and contributing to stabilizing the then government because the then president was elected on the PDP platform.
Metuh specifically dismissed allegations that the money was channeled to him through Dasuki, saying that, “I did not receive any money from Col. Sambo Dasuki.
“The N400m was paid into my account by the then president and I did not conceal or disguise the money and it did not transfer out of jurisdiction”, he said.
Metuh insisted that the money was paid him for specific purposes and disbursed to those who executed the purposes as directed by the then president, adding that he later submitted details of the disbursement to the president.
He urged the court to take a look into the list of disbursement carried out in cash and in cheques.
Metuh also dismissed the insinuation that the N4oom was meant to fund the PDP, adding that at the period, the PDP was rich to the tune of N33 billion, with N12 billion generated from sales of nomination forms and N21 billion raked from fundraising.
According to him, the N400m was not for PDP, because there is no need to take a cup of water to the ocean.
Meanwhile, further cross-examination has been adjourned to June 24, 25 and 26, 2019.
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