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Jonathan paid Metuh for publicity, Okupe tells court

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A former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Wednesday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that former President Jonathan paid the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, the sum of  N400 million for PDP’s publicity efforts.

Okupe, who appeared as defence witness in the trial of Metuh, said that as the leader of the party, President Jonathan issued money for the party’s activities, and could also ask a subordinate to handle such assignment.

According to him, sometime in November 2014, the leadership of the PDP was concerned about the negative perception of people towards the party, and was of the opinion that something should be done, adding that Jonathan told him that Metuh and some consultants had some suggestions regarding the way forward for the party.

He also said a meeting was called to discuss the matter with then Senate President, David Mark, chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih, and a former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi in attendance.

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Okupe added that Metuh and his team of media consultants made a presentation at that meeting, on what they could do and that the party made additional suggestions on what could be additions to the presentation.

According to him, the former president instructed that Mr. Metuh be paid N400 million for the project and that “Very early in the morning, I got a call from Chief Metuh who told me that he had received N400 million from the president,” Mr. Okupe said.

Okupe equally defended the action, insisting that Jonathan had great capacity at the time to raise funds from people.

“As a candidate to election, the president had immense capacity to response. And this was demonstrated by the amount of money the president was able to raise, during the fund raising activity in the villa,” Mr. Okupe said.

“There are people who may not necessarily show their support in public; who privately give their support to the president.”

“Substantial funds became available to the president, which he also made available for projects that he felt would enhance his cause,” Okupe said.

He however said it was strange that the payment of the money is linked security payment from the office of the embattled National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, saying: “I don’t know anything about this. It looks strange to me. The president could have paid for the campaign activities himself”.

The case was adjourned till Thursday.

 

 

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