How I invested Metuh’s $2m – Witness

The trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, git underway on Monday with the witnesses called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, revealing how the embattled PDP spokesman gave the sum of $2 million to be invested on his behalf.

When the trial opened, the counsel to Metuh, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), had sought the adjournment of the commencement of trial, arguing that since the accused person had not been able to perfect his bail, the situation had impacted negatively on his preparation for his defence.

The judge, Justice Okon Abang, however overruled Ikpeazu, directing the EFCC to open its case, after the prosecution counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application for adjournment.

The prosecution called one Nneka Ararume an employee of Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, ARM, who narrated how she collected a total sum of $2m cash from Metuh at his house in Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja.

According to her, Metuh gave her the money with an instruction that it should be invested, adding that she proceeded to change the money to its naira equivalent through two bureau de change operators, Mr. Sie Iyenome and Mr Kabir Mohammed.

“I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2 where I gave him the sum of $1m.
“I also invited Mr. Kabir Mohammed and I also gave him the sum of $1m to transfer the naira equivalent in favour of Destra Investment Limited. Later on the same day, December 2, 2014, Mr. Kabir and Mr. Sie Iyenome confirmed the receipt.”

The prosecution also called Iyenome as its second prosecution witness, who also confirmed Ararume’s story.

Justice Abang adjourned further hearing to Tuesday after both the prosecution and defence counsels cross examined the witnesses.

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