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Ex-PDP scribe Metuh cries out, says all my accounts frozen, can’t feed my family, buy Panadol or water to drink

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Ex-PDP scribe Metuh cries out, says all my accounts frozen, can’t feed my family, buy Panadol or water to drink

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that all his bank accounts were on Monday frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said he was in a state of shock and currently can neither feed his family, buy Panadol nor water to drink as a result of the anti-graft agency’s action.

Metuh stated this before the court presided over by Justice Okon Abang while testifying in his trial as a defence witness.

He said he had to tell the court of his predicament because the freezing of his accounts had to do with his trial on the charges bordering on the N400 million he allegedly fraudulently received from the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014.

He said, “The EFCC seized my accounts yesterday night and I can’t get money to feed my family. I am in total shock as I am here talking to you. I don’t even know what to say.

“They seized all my accounts in every bank in this country. As I am don’t have money to buy Panadol or water to drink.”

Metuh said he finds it difficult to believe that the EFCC, which had already seized his assets with the Asset and Resource Management Company Limited and his funds in other banks, could again also  deny him access to his funds worth more than the amount at stake in the ongoing trial.

“They have alleged in this case that N400 million was stolen. Why would they not limit it to that amount? I don’t know how I am going to feed my family? I don’t have access to any money at all. I am ready to end this case and submit myself to the judgment of this court.”

In his submission, Metuh’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said while he had no objection to what his client said, he however was not in support in the aspect of him (Metuh) ending the case.

But the judge, after listening said the issue was not part of the case before him.

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Justice Abang therefore urged Metuh to ask his lawyer to discuss the issue with the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, who was present in court.

Metuh had earlier tendered the print-outs of some news reports from news conferences he organised as the spokesperson of the PDP in July 2015, explaining that they were critical of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, and was the reason for the threats and his eventual arrest and prosecution.

The EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and his Destra Investments Limited, on seven counts of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, for the PDP’s campaign activities.

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