PDP spokesman denies tearing statement made to EFCC

monjola sotubo

January 18, 2016 12:49 PM

Metuh is said to have made the denial during a visit by some PDP members to his cell at Kuje Prison, Abuja.

Olisa Metuh

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has denied reports that he tore and attempted to chew a statement he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Metuh is said to have made the denial during a visit by some PDP members to his cell at Kuje Prison, Abuja, The Tribune reports.

“They said I ate paper. I did not eat any paper. I don’t know where they got that from,” Metuh supposedly said.

“As a matter of fact, the last contact I had with those people was the next day after I was arrested when I told them to charge me to court,” he added.

An EFCC source earlier said that Metuh tore the document when it was given to him to acknowledge and sign.

“The tearing of statement is tantamount to wilful destruction of government property and it is a serious offence. Also, the fact that he obstructed operatives from performing their job is a criminal offence,” the source said.

The EFCC has charged Metuh with 7 counts of corruption before the Federal High Court in Abuja and the court has ordered that he be remanded in prison till January 19.

Metuh has been accused of accepting N400 million from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki who is being tried for stealing public funds.

Dasuki is at the center of the massive money laundering investigation and is alleged to have supervised the looting of $2 billion in funds which were meant for the procurement of arms for Nigeria's military.

He was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on December 1, 2015 and handed over to the EFCC the day after.

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The former NSA is reported to have implicated several prominent persons in the deal including former governors, ex-ministers and members of the PDP.

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Dasuki’s lawyer however denied the report that his client had become an informant while the former NSA said that ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan was aware of the transactions he had made.

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Jonathan has however denied authorizing the release of the stated funds despite the former NSA’s claim that he got the necessary presidential approval for the transactions.

monjola sotubo