Olisa Metuh, the embattled spokesperson of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday, February 18, 2016 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.
Wilson
Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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