A public relations consultant and prosecution
witness in the ongoing trial of the National
Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, Mr. Olayinka
Okunsanya, yesterday told a Federal High Court
how Destra Investment Limited, owned by Metuh
paid him N77.5 million to carry out publicity jobs
for the PDP.
Okusanya is the managing directors of CMC
Connect, a public relations consultant firm that is
into publicity, promotions, image management
and media-related services.
In his evidence in chief, the witness (PW6) said
Metuh, through Destra, paid him the money “for
jobs we did for the PDP.
He said: “In December 2014, Metuh, through
Destra, paid N7.5 million in cheques in my name
which was transferred to my company
“On December 15, 2014, he transferred N70
million through his company again after which we
commenced publicity work for the PDP.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) has arrainged Metuh on a seven-count
charge of money laundering to the tune of N400
million.
The anti-corruption agency alleged that he
received the money from the former National
Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd), which
it claimed was part of the $2.1 billion meant for
the purchase of arms.
Another witness, Kabiru Ibrahim, a Bureau De
Change (BDC) operator, said he received $1
million from a previous witness, PW1, Nneka
Ararume.
In her testimony as PW1, Ararume, a staff of
Assets Resource Management Company (ARM)
and an investment officer to Metuh, said the
money was given to Ibrahim to sell.
Ibrahim told the court that he was called by PW1,
who gave him $1 million to sell at the rate of
N183 in early December 2014.
The money, totalling N183 million, was later
transferred to the account of Destra Investments
Limited, Olisa Metuh’s company.
He said he had never personally sold dollars to
Metuh at any point in time.
According to the witness, “She paid me in cash,
through my account with Diamond Bank and I
transferred the money to that account, Destra,”
The witness also said he never did anything
wrong in selling dollars to Ararume.
“I don’t know, I don’t have limit.”
Ibrahim also agreed that the huge fund transfer
he made was done legitimately by his bank,
Diamond Bank.
Meanwhile, a staff of Diamond Bank, Eno-Mfon
Effiong, who is also an account officer of the five
accounts belonging to Metuh and his company,
also told a Federal High Court how N400 million
was paid into the company’s account by the
Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The witness, who was testifying as prosecution
witness on Wednesday, said on November 24,
2014, the account of Destra Investments Limited
was credited with N400 million from the office of
the NSA under code CBN/CIFTS/MAT SEC ADBIS,
which in simple terms means that it is a credit
from the ONSA.
Metuh’s trial has been adjourned to February 4 at
the instance of his counsel.
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