Dasukigate: Witness Confirms PDP Spokesman Metuh’s Company Received Money From Ex-NSA

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

The trial of the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh on the alleged N400 Million money laundering continues Tuesday with another prosecution witness giving evidence.

A witness, Bali Ndam told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that the money paid to Metuh, via his private company, Dextra Investment Limited, was for undisclosed “security services”.

Ndam, who is the third prosecution witness and a legal adviser in the office of the NSA, indicated that the NSA’s office, in January 2016, sent a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). The correspondence he said comprised the names of companies the office awarded contracts.
He said among the 78 companies and individuals, stated in the letter was Dextra Investment Limited, Metuh’s company.

The witness explained that the EFCC also requested for the payment mandate to the companies, in a letter it wrote January 13, 2016 and signed by Ibrahim M. Musa. He added that the list of e-payment mandate was sent alongside the list of companies and individuals to the EFCC on January 14.

In addition, Ndam revealed that another letter was written to the EFCC and was signed by the Special Adviser to the NSA, Lieutenant Colonel AA Ibrahim.

Counsel to the accused, Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the evidence presented by the witness was a document authored by another person, therefore could not be relied upon.

He also contended that the documents which were computer-generated and attached to the letter dated January 14, 2016, by the NSA office, did not meet the provisions of section 84 of the Evidence Act.

Similarly, he insisted that in line with sections 84, sub sections (2) and sub section (4), ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘c,’ such document must be certified as true copy before it could be admitted.

Ikpeazu also pointed out that the discrepancy between the title of the document in his possession was different from the one explained by Ndam. According to him, the title of the document with him was “Payment Companies With No Contract”, while the version mentioned by the witness was titled: “Payment Of Contracts Without Award”

It is against this background he prayed the Court to quash the evidence. Still, the prosecution Counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, countered the prayer.

Justice Okon Abang, overruled Ikpeazu’s objection and ruled that the documents before the court were correspondents while their nature did not require certification as argued by the accused Counsel.

Also, the Court is expected to rule on the variation of Metuh’s bail application. The accused was ordered back to Kuje prison, Monday as he failed to meet his bail conditions.