Arms scam: Metuh got N400m through e-payment, witness tells court

Trial of the embattled
National Publicity Secretary of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh continued Tuesday, with a senior official from the Office of the National Security
Adviser, ONSA, disclosing how N400million was electronically
wired into the company account of
the defendant. The witness, Mr. Baleh Ndam who testified before trial Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in
Abuja said that it was the erstwhile
National Security Adviser, NSA, Col.
Sambo Dasuki, rtd, that authorized
the transfer of the fund into the
bank account of Destra Investment
Limited, a firm owned by Metuh.
Ndam is the third witness the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, has brought to
testify against the PDP spokesman,
who alongside his firm, is
answering to a seven-count
criminal charge that borders on
criminal breach of trust and illegal
diversion of public funds to the
tune of N400million.
In his testimony, the PW-3, told
the court that the court that
Metuh’s firm was among a total of
78 companies that allegedly
received payments from the ONSA
without executing any contract.
He told the court that since 2012
when he started working in the
legal department at the ONSA, he
never came across or prepared any
contract of any nature between the
ONSA and Destra Investment
Limited which is the 2nd defendant
in the matter.
Led into evidence by EFCC lawyer,
Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, the witness
said: “My lord, I am a civil servant
in the legal department of the
Office of the National Security
Adviser, ONSA. I have been working
there since 2012.
“My duties include vetting and
drafting contracts and
memorandum of understanding,
among other things. I don’t know
Metuh personally and I have not in
my official capacity known or heard
about Destra Investment Limited.
“I worked under Major General
Muhktar, Gen Aliyu Gusau, Gen
Azizia and later Col. Sambo Dasuki.
On November 28, 2015, the ONSA
forwarded a letter to the Chairman
of the EFCC titled “Payment of
contract without award”, for
necessary action.
“The letter forwarded list of
companies and individuals
numbering 78 and Destra
Investments Limited was one of
them.