A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday queried the failure of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party spokesman, Olisa Metuh, to bring his witnesses to court.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Okon Abang issued the query after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission closed its case.
Metuh’s Counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), informed the court that the defence was not ready and needed time to call their witnesses for trial.
Abang expressed disappointment with the situation, saying that the defence was served with the copy of the charge and the proof of service since the beginning of the case.
He said the defence had no reason whatsoever not to continue with the trial.
The judge, however, said the case would be adjourned at the instance of the defence.
The last prosecution witness, Junaidu Sa’id, an investigation officer, told the court under cross examination that N21.7 million was transferred from Destra Investment Limited to a former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.
Sa’id, who was cross examined by Onyeachi, also testified that N5 million was transferred to the former National Woman Leader of the PDP, Kema Chikwe, while N25 million was transferred to a former aide of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Alhaji Abba Dabo.
He said he discovered N500 million in Destra Investment’s account was paid to one Daniel Ford International company for the purpose of buying a landed property in Banana Island, Lagos.
He said the money was transferred in tranches of N300 million and N200 million to the company.
According to Sa’id: “I did not discover any contract approval from the office of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to Destra Investment Limited to carry out publicity for former President Jonathan and PDP.
“The N400 million purported contract has no approval and I know there should be an internal process where each contract is approved and where it can confirmed that such contract had been executed.
“My lord, during investigation, we discovered that the sum of N10 billion had been withdrawn from the account of former NSA’s office to finance PDP’s presidential convention.”
The judge adjourned the case till February 18 to enable the defence open its case.
