Metuh Bags Seven Years in Prison for Money Laundering

Ex-PDP Spokesman to Return N375m

Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisah Metuh, and his firm, Destra Investments Limited, have been sentenced to seven years in prison after he was found guilty of count one, two and three of the seven-count charge levelled against them by the Federal Government.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, convicted the two defendants yesterday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred the charge against Metuh and his company for alleged money laundering to the tune of N400 million.

Ruling on the first count charge, Justice Abang held that the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, unlawfully transferred the N400 million to the defendants in November 2014.

The judge maintained that Metuh and his firm reasonably ought to have known that the N400 million paid to them formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of the former NSA since they had no form of contractual relationship with him. According to the judge, Dasuki transferred the money to the defendants in breach of public trust.

READ ALSO SAGAMU CRISIS: IG DISBANDS ZONAL SARS

The judge said: “The issue is whether or not the first defendant has actual knowledge or constructive knowledge or no knowledge at all of the inflow of N400 million from ONSA to the second defendant. If Metuh knows of the inflow of the N400m into the account of the second defendant controlled by him without any contract, then he should have been conscious of receiving such fund.

“And upon being told of the inflow of N400 million by Prosecution Witness 4, why did he fail to confront the bank for not alerting him? And I agree that the first defendant turned a blind eye to receiving the fund.

The prosecution, led by Mr Sylvanus Tahir, successfully proved that the transaction violated Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012, which pegs the maximum cash transaction an individual can undertake outside a financial institution at N5m.

On count two of the charges, Justice Abang held that the prosecution had advanced evidence that the first defendant had used the said amount for a PDP campaign.

"This is a serious issue that concerns the credibility of the first defendant where he destroyed a confessional statement he made that the 400 million he received from ONSA was to fund the political campaign of the PDP,” the judge held. He also agreed with the counsel to the prosecution that the money was disbursed for the campaign of the PDP.

“My lords, the first defendant, in respect to him, is not a witness of truth. He has not offered any valid explanation in the transfer of N50 million in favour of the joint account of Kanayo Olisa Metuh which him and his wife operated. It is clear that the defendant converted the fund for political activities and personal use,” the judge insisted. With this, he found both the first and second defendants guilty and convicted them for count two.

Check live rates of Dollar to Naira HERE

The court ruled that the ex-PDP spokesperson would only spend in prison the highest number of years of jail terms imposed by the court, which is seven years. Justice Abang ordered Metuh to refund N375m to the Federal Government, as the N25m which would have made it the complete N400m had already been voluntarily refunded by Abba Dabo. Dabo, who testified as a prosecution witness, had said he received N25m from Metuh but had to voluntarily refund it to government after he realised that it came from funds linked to the “botched arms purchase deal”.

Meanwhile, members of the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) have accused President Muhammadu Buhari of failing to demonstrate a genuine commitment to prosecuting the ongoing war against corrupt practices in the country.

The group’s convener, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, who briefed reporters in Abuja alleged that President Buhari had deliberately refused to purge his own cabinet and administration of corrupt individuals who enjoy protection by virtue of offices they hold through him.

The group referred to a minister who allegedly has a huge unresolved corruption case hanging over his head to buttress its claim.

Applauding the conviction of Metuh, the group enjoined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure the immediate prosecution of other corrupt persons in President Buhari’s government with the same vigour it deployed in ensuring Metuh’s conviction.

“It is quite embarrassing and indeed disappointing that a president who came into office bearing the toga of integrity would surround himself with individuals who have questionable antecedents and impeachable character.

“We have the case of a minister who has an indecent record and has been charged to court and the administration influenced the withdrawal of the matter through the then Inspector General of Police. EFCC took over the matter but unfortunately before investigating the matter, this man was decorated with a ministerial appointment.

“What we are saying is this, let this administration address this matter to ensure that there is justice in the real sense of it. So if this administration must fight corruption, it must purify itself by purging itself of all individuals who have corruption record. They must be investigated.”

Shortly before passing the sentences on Tuesday, the judge said the facts presented in the case showed that Nigeria needed a rebirth. He said, “Public funds being dissipated by those connected to those in public office and public officers themselves is an evidence of how corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigeria.

“The situation requires a quick diagnostic steps – a drastic situation requires a drastic action – for the attainment of a social engineering in our society, and by so doing, the future of the next generation can be assured. We indeed need a national rebirth.”