Dasukigate: Metuh Pleads to Amended Charge
Olaoluwa Folalu
Olisa Metuh, the embattled spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, onThursday pleaded to a seven- count amended charge bordering money laundering brought against him before Justice E.O Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Metuh is standing trial for allegedly receiving the sum of N400 million (Four hundred million naira) from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) who is being tried for laundering $2.1 billion.
One of the counts reads:
“That you Olisa Metuh and Destra Investments Limited on or before the 24th November, 2014 in Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable court took possession of the sum N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira) only, paid into the account of DESTRA INVESTMENTS LIMITED with DIAMOND BANK Plc. Account No.0040437573 from the account of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria without contract award when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) the then National Security Adviser (To Wit; criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Counsel to the defence, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, prayed the court to allow the defendant to continue on the earlier bail with same terms and conditions as the defendant has never defaulted.
Justice Abang granted the defence prayer and adjourned to February 25, 2016 for adoption of written addresses on the “no case submission” made by the defence.