January 25, 2016/The Will

Two witnesses presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the commission’s prosecution of a N400m money laundering case against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, spokesman, Olisa Metuh, have told a Federal High Court in Abuja how the latter and his company, Dextra Investments Limited, cornered $2m allegedly collected from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. 

At the commencement of trials on Monday, the first prosecution
witness, Nneka Ararume, a wealth manager dealing in management of
equities, fixed income instruments and real estate, claimed that she
collected the sum of $2m from Metuh sometime in December 2014.

Having collected the amount, she noted that she changed the dollars
into Nigerian currency through two bureau de change operators she
engaged and had it transferred to the bank account of Metuh.

According to her, “He gave me the sum of $2m in $100 bills. It was taken to bureau de change operators who would then transfer the money to ARM. From there (Metuh’s house) I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2 where I gave him the sum of $1m.

“I also invited Mr. Kabir Mohammed and I also gave him the sum of $1m to transfer the naira equivalent in favour of Destra Investment Limited. Later on the same day, December 2, 2014, Mr. Kabir and Mr. Sie Iyenome confirmed the receipt.”

On his part, the second witness called by the EFCC, Iyenome, who is a
bureau de change operator, said he had the sum of $1m exchanged to N183
million and transferred to the account of Dextra Investments Limited.

He was however quick to point out that he had no knowledge of either
Mr. Metuh or his company, Dextra investment Limited, before that time.

Both witnesses were subsequently cross-examined by the defence counsel.

Trial has been adjourned till tomorrow (Tuesday) for the prosecution
counsel, who claimed to have 16 more witnesses lined up, to call more
witnesses.