Alleged N400m fraud: My transaction with Metuh was legal —Dasuki

COLONEL Sambo Dasuki (rtd), on Friday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he did not carry out any unlawful transaction with a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief  Olisa Metuh, when he was National Security Adviser (NSA) under former President Goodluck Jonathan between June 2012 and July 2015.

Dasuki stated this at the resumed trial of Metuh over corruption allegations.

Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are facing a seven-count charge of money laundering involving alleged receipt of N400 million meant for the procurement of arms from Dasuki when he was the NSA.

The former NSA, who was led in evidence by Metuh’s counsel, Dr Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), also told the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, that he had not been charged or convicted of any unlawful act or activity with respect to the first defendant.

He also told the court that as the NSA, he was only answerable to the president.

Under cross examination by counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sylvanus Tahir, the former NSA, however, declined to comment on alleged transactions between his office (ONSA) and Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Ltd, without first consulting his records.

Even when confronted with exhibits showing transactions between the Office of the NSA and the first and second defendants, Dasuki simply dismissed them as purported documents of “a prosecution that is desperate to get a conviction.”

“That is why I insist on getting and referring to my own record,” he told the court.

He referred the prosecution to the National Security Agencies Act on the responsibility and requirement of a National Security Adviser.

Dasuki admitted knowing Metuh, adding that Metuh was the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, a party which he claimed to have proudly served under but said he was not aware of any relationship that existed between Metuh, his company and ONSA.

After giving his evidence, Justice Abang discharged the witness and adjourned the trial till December 4, 5 and 6, 2017.

Earlier, Justice Abang declined to grant Metuh’s application for the adjournment of the trial to enable Dasuki access to his record and refresh his memory before testifying.

The judge stated that there was no provision in law for an adjournment to be granted to a witness who was not even a party to a matter to refresh his memory.

According to him, it is the responsibility of the defence counsel to use his professional skills to get answers from a witness.