Arms deal: Metuh wants Dasuki to testify for him

THE former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, on Monday asked Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to appear in court to testify for him in the seven-count charge filed against him by the Federal Government.

The former PDP spokesman, who is facing trial alongside his firm, Destra Investment Limited was alleged to have received N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), prior to the 2015 presidential election.

Metuh had filed an application seeking to compel Dasuki to come and testify for him in the matter and another application seeking the release of his travel document to enable him travel abroad for medical attention.

Metuh said since the anti-graft agency said the money that was given to him was from criminal activities, Dasuki, who gave him the money should come to court to say whether the money was from criminal activities or not.

He said he had, in December last year asked that the former NSA to be subpoenaed to appear in court to give evidence in the matter but, the Department of State Services (DSS) that held him (Dasuki) failed to release him to come and testify for him in court.

It is in view of that development that Metuh approached the court via a motion for the DSS to be compelled to produce Dasuki in court to testify in the court, since he collected the said amount from the former NSA.

“He should be allowed to come to court to say whether the money he gave me was proceed of crime,” he former PDP spokesman stated.

Metuh said he had great respect for the court and the law of the land, saying that was why he was always in court to face his trial, except recently when trial was stalled in his case, owing to his ill-health.

The former PDP spokesman was at a time rushed to the national hospital where he was admitted for complications arising from the spinal cord ailment for which he had earlier prayed the court to allow him leave for a scheduled surgery abroad.

He said the way and manner he was been brought to the court from Kuje prison aggravated his health complications and added that it was not proper for the prosecution to accuse him of using his illness as an excuse to delay proceedings.

The trial Judge, Justice Abang adjourned till Wednesday, February 22, 2017 to hear Metuh’s application for the release of his travel document he deposited with the registrar of the court as part of the conditions for his bail as well as the motion to compel Dasuki to testify for him in court.