TVC E, POLITICS – Embattled spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh has faulted his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Metuh, who is charged with criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering claims the EFCC has failed to establish his guilt.
Metuh argued that for the prosecution to establish a prima facie case, it must be shown that he took possession or control of funds, knowing that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act or reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
The PDP scribe allegedly received N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)and making cash transaction of $2 million.
But in his no-case submission adopted last week, Metuh said there was no evidence that at the time the money was paid into his company’s account, he was notified directly or indirectly that the sum was paid from the account of ONSA.
Metuh said following a presentation to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on how to shore up the image of the PDP and by extension, Nigeria, he expected to be paid to execute the presentation, but not from the ONSA.
He argued that the idea that he ought to know that the funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act did not arise.
Metuh, who noted that the EFCC admitted he had no business with the ONSA,wondered how the commission expected him to have known funds paid to him was for Illegal purpose.
“On yet another counter pane, Section 15(2)(d) of the Act requires proof that the money must be proceeds of an unlawful act. In this case, it has not been established the defendants knew the ONSA engaged in any unlawful act. An unlawful act must be an act, which is not authorised or approved and which has been found to be illegal.
Lawyer to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, In a counter argument, disagreed, insisting that the prosecution led overwhelming evidence against Metuh and expressed surprise he (Metuh) was raising a no-case submission.
Tahir said EFCC received a complaint from the ONSA that money was paid under the ex-National Security Adviser to individuals and companies without any document supporting such payments and that the commission investigated the petition.
He urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission and direct Metuh and his company to enter defence.
Justice Okon Abang will rule on the no-case submission on March 9.
Metuh is being tried with his company, Destra Investments Limited at the Federal High Court, Abuja. He pleaded not guilty.
