METUH’S ALLEGED N400M FRAUD: Court accepts records of expenditure as evidence

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja hearing the N400 million case of alleged fraud involving the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday accepted records of expenditure of the fund as evidence.

The document titled, ‘President National Assignment Account’ was accepted as evidence and marked exhibit D20.

Metuh informed the court that the said amount was disbursed to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan for a special national assignment.

The records of account tendered by Metuh contained details of the disbursements and signatures of those who received funds in the execution of the said special national assignment.

Metuh, however, denied the involvement of an aide of the former vice president, Abba Dabo, in the ‘national assignment.’

He explained that the N25 million he paid to Dabo was not from the N400 million but rather from the PDP for the party’s activities.

“All the dealings I had with Dabo had nothing to do with the special national assignment.

“Nothing about Dabo was contained in the record of account submitted to the former president and there is no record of payment made to Dabo in the special national assignment,” Metuh said.

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He further explained, ‘’I had previously testified in court that, as National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, I usually made payment from my personal resources for party activities after which I got refunds from the party.’’

After hearing Metuh’s defence, Justice Abang adjourned the matter until April 10 for continuation of trial.

Metuh is alleged to have fraudulently received the N400 million from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

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