Metuh, who is the defence team’s 15th witness under cross-examination today, September 27, by the prosecution counsel at the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Okon Abang, said that the disbursement of the funds was as directed by the former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that he paid the sum of N7.5 million through a cheque to a company known as CNC Connect on December 2, 2014 and that another payment of N21.7 million was also made to Chief Anenih and N50 million to Kanayo/Olisah Metuh which is a joint account on December 4, 2014 while on the same date, he paid the sum of N31.5 million to Richard Ehidioha
According to Metuh, two separate payments of N200 million and N300 million were made to Daniel Ford International also on December 4, 2014, adding that other subsequent payments were made to CNC Connect in the sum of N70 million on December 15, 2014; N25 million to Abba Dabo on December 16, 2014 and N5 million to Ambassador Kema Chikwe.
He said that a final report he submitted to then President Jonathan had all the expenditures of the N400 million, captured in receipts and signatures for all payment of monies in cash and through several accounts for the special assignment. He said that he had about 19 accounts and that more than five are in Diamond Bank.
Metu told the court that he made an investment of $2 million dollars in cash in ARM, through an ARM staff, Miss Nneka Ararume.
When asked if the equivalent of the $2 million was paid in naira into Dextra’s account which was to the tune N366 million at that time, he said: “we led evidence to show that the $2 million was paid by me to ARM and the prosecution had led evidence to show that Nneka Ararume paid monies to bureau de change which now transferred the monies into my account.”
He said that he did not have any dealings with the bureau de change, recalling that Miss Ararume told the court that she got his account details from his record with ARM and gave it to the bureau de change.
When asked if the non-payment of $2 million dollars into his account was to conceal the origin of the money, Metuh said that the non-payment of the sum into his account was the failure of his account officer to execute a lawful and legal directive.
Metuh is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his company, Destra Investment on seven-count charges, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N400 million.
He told the court that there was never an instance where ex President Jonathan directly paid any money to him.
Evidence was shown to him about the N6.6 million he had in his account before the inflow of N400 million into it on November 24, 2014,
Justice Abang adjourned the matter to September 30, 2019 for continuation of trial.
