The former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday for the Friday’s proceedings in the ongoing trial of a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh.
Accordingly, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, refused to suspend trial of erstwhile National Publicity Secretray of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, to allow the detained former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, who was summoned to testify as a witness in the trial, to refresh his memory.
However on entering the witness box, while being led in evidence by Metuh’s lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), Dasuki told that he could no longer remember the details of the N400m which he gave to Metuh in 2014.
The sum of N400m, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged Metuh fraudulently received from the NSA office in 2014, is part of the subject of the charges on which Metuh and his firm, Destra Investments Limited are being prosecuted.
Justice Abang who has now resumed sitting for the Friday’s proceedings is to first rule on the request by the defence to defer the testimony of Dasuki until his release from the custody of the DSS and would be able to have access to his records which he claimed he needed to be able to continue his testimony.
Following Dasuki’s insistence that he could not give evidence in the matter until he was allowed to consult his personal files, Metuh, through his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, SAN, begged the court for an adjournment of the trial to enable the subpoenaed witness to have access to his records.
Accordingly, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, refused to suspend trial of erstwhile National Publicity Secretray of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, to allow the detained former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, who was summoned to testify as a witness in the trial, to refresh his memory.
However on entering the witness box, while being led in evidence by Metuh’s lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), Dasuki told that he could no longer remember the details of the N400m which he gave to Metuh in 2014.
The sum of N400m, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged Metuh fraudulently received from the NSA office in 2014, is part of the subject of the charges on which Metuh and his firm, Destra Investments Limited are being prosecuted.
Justice Abang who has now resumed sitting for the Friday’s proceedings is to first rule on the request by the defence to defer the testimony of Dasuki until his release from the custody of the DSS and would be able to have access to his records which he claimed he needed to be able to continue his testimony.
Following Dasuki’s insistence that he could not give evidence in the matter until he was allowed to consult his personal files, Metuh, through his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, SAN, begged the court for an adjournment of the trial to enable the subpoenaed witness to have access to his records.
In his ruling on Friday, Justice Abang dismissed the request which he said lacked merit.
Justice Abang said he could not adjourn the trial for Dasuki to consult his personal documents that are not in evidence before the court.
He said it was for Metuh’s lawyer to use his professional skill to ask Dasuki relevant questions that will elicit answers favourable to the case of his client.
The Judge said he had watched Dasuki’s demeanour in the witness box, saying he appeared “composed and relaxed”.
He said Metuh’s lawyer was at liberty to ask the witness questions based on the proof evidence already before the court, stressing that Dasuki’s answers would constitute his evidence in the trial.
The court said Dasuki could elect not to answer questions posed to him as he would be cross-examined by the prosecution based on his testimony with respect to the charge against the defendants.
“This application for adjournment lacks merit, same is accordingky refused”, Justice Abang held.
Meanwhile, Dasuki has re-entered the witness box and is currently giving evidence in the case.
The detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, told the Court that he would not be able to remember if the sum of N400m paid to a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, in 2014, was for the provision of security services.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had alleged in some of the seven counts preferred against Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited that the ex-PDP spokesperson fraudulently received the sum of N400m from ONSA without any justification and spent same on the party and personal affairs.
Dasuki, Metuh’s eighth defence witness, was fielding questions under cross-examination by the counsel prosecuting Metuh on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir.
The ex-NSA, who was earlier led in evidence-in-chief by Metuh’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said without recourse to his records which he had no access to while in the custody of the Department of State Services, he would not be able to confirm the payment of N400m to Metuh or the purpose it was meant for.
The witness also said he could not remember if the ONSA under his watch had relations with Destra Investments Limited, the company, through which Metuh allegedly received the N400m from ONSA in 2014.
When shown and asked to confirm the content of the e-payment mandate earlier tendered as exhibit in the case and on which his name and signature appeared, authorising the payment of N400m, Dasuki said, “My name has been typed out there.”
Asked to read out the purpose of the payment as contained in the “e-payment mandate”, the ex-NSA said, ” the purpose of payment: payment for security services.”
Then the prosecuting counsel, asked, “What services did the company, Destra Investments Limited, the second defendant render to entitle the company, the payment of N400m.”
In response, the Dasuki said, “If you want an answer, I still have to refer to my records.
“It would be useful for the counsel to make himself familiar with the NSA Act.”
The witness was also shown Exhibit D1, which was a letter from Diamond Bank in response to a request by EFCC.
When asked to read the narrative in a document attached to the letter, Dasuki said, “I have seen in the document that was produced, exhibit D1, that there is an entry that purports that payment from ONSA in the sum of N400m into the account of Destra Investment Limited.”
Dasuki has concluded his testimony and has been discharged by the court.
Adjournment date:
December 4 2017 for defence’s next witness, earmark to be the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
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Justice Abang said he could not adjourn the trial for Dasuki to consult his personal documents that are not in evidence before the court.
He said it was for Metuh’s lawyer to use his professional skill to ask Dasuki relevant questions that will elicit answers favourable to the case of his client.
The Judge said he had watched Dasuki’s demeanour in the witness box, saying he appeared “composed and relaxed”.
He said Metuh’s lawyer was at liberty to ask the witness questions based on the proof evidence already before the court, stressing that Dasuki’s answers would constitute his evidence in the trial.
The court said Dasuki could elect not to answer questions posed to him as he would be cross-examined by the prosecution based on his testimony with respect to the charge against the defendants.
“This application for adjournment lacks merit, same is accordingky refused”, Justice Abang held.
Meanwhile, Dasuki has re-entered the witness box and is currently giving evidence in the case.
The detained former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, told the Court that he would not be able to remember if the sum of N400m paid to a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, in 2014, was for the provision of security services.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had alleged in some of the seven counts preferred against Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited that the ex-PDP spokesperson fraudulently received the sum of N400m from ONSA without any justification and spent same on the party and personal affairs.
Dasuki, Metuh’s eighth defence witness, was fielding questions under cross-examination by the counsel prosecuting Metuh on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir.
The ex-NSA, who was earlier led in evidence-in-chief by Metuh’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said without recourse to his records which he had no access to while in the custody of the Department of State Services, he would not be able to confirm the payment of N400m to Metuh or the purpose it was meant for.
The witness also said he could not remember if the ONSA under his watch had relations with Destra Investments Limited, the company, through which Metuh allegedly received the N400m from ONSA in 2014.
When shown and asked to confirm the content of the e-payment mandate earlier tendered as exhibit in the case and on which his name and signature appeared, authorising the payment of N400m, Dasuki said, “My name has been typed out there.”
Asked to read out the purpose of the payment as contained in the “e-payment mandate”, the ex-NSA said, ” the purpose of payment: payment for security services.”
Then the prosecuting counsel, asked, “What services did the company, Destra Investments Limited, the second defendant render to entitle the company, the payment of N400m.”
In response, the Dasuki said, “If you want an answer, I still have to refer to my records.
“It would be useful for the counsel to make himself familiar with the NSA Act.”
The witness was also shown Exhibit D1, which was a letter from Diamond Bank in response to a request by EFCC.
When asked to read the narrative in a document attached to the letter, Dasuki said, “I have seen in the document that was produced, exhibit D1, that there is an entry that purports that payment from ONSA in the sum of N400m into the account of Destra Investment Limited.”
Dasuki has concluded his testimony and has been discharged by the court.
Adjournment date:
December 4 2017 for defence’s next witness, earmark to be the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
In this article: