refund the N400 million from the arms deal procurement fund that he received from Ex-NSA Dasuki. In a statement released by his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpazu,
Metuh said he was returning the money to signify his support for
President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war. Metuh is currently
undergoing trial for money laundering at a Federal High Court in Abuja.Full text of his statement offering to refund the money below
Why Our Client (Chief Olisa Metuh) is Offering To Refund The N400 million – Counsel
In the light of the circumstances regarding the case of our client,
Chief Olisa Metuh with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), we want to explain the reasons for our client’s proposal to
refund the N400 million released to him by former President Goodluck
Jonathan, and which was expended on a project approved by the
ex-President on national issues relating to his Presidency and the
Federal Government at that time.
1. We want to restate that at the time the money was released to him
after his presentation to the ex-President, our client had no knowledge
of the source, a fact that is now obvious from the evidence of the
prosecution and defence witnesses. Our client had every cause to believe
that the money was from the ex-President to whom he made a
presentation, received directives and rendered report and accounts
accordingly.
2. When the matter first came up, and Chief Metuh was invited to the
Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in December 2015, he
requested to know the source of the money and expressed his readiness to
make refunds if it was from government coffers, not minding that the
money had been expended as directed by the former President. Officials
at ONSA never got back to him as they promised, until his arrest by the
EFCC in January 2016.
3. It was however while in court that a document was brought regarding
the source of the money and since then, our Client has made manifest his
willingness to refund the money and has indeed approached his family,
friends and associates to mobilise funds to refund the entire N400
million to the government regardless of the fact that the money had been
expended based on the directives of the former President and that part
of the money had been recovered from one of the prosecution witnesses.
4. We want to confirm that since then, we have been in talks with the
Ministry of Justice, the EFCC and other necessary bodies on how to
refund the money and resolve the issue.
5. Our client occupied no government office. His commitment and
dedication to his official duties have been confirmed by even
prosecution witnesses. In this whole saga, he has been an unfortunate
victim of circumstances. His refunding the money, therefore, goes to
show his support for the anti-corruption war as well as serve as a
testament to his sincerity, integrity and honesty in this matter.
6. There is no doubt that the prosecution has considerably embarked on
some expenses in the course of this case. It is hoped that by not
discounting the sum already recovered, whatever cost so far incurred
would have been defrayed. By this, a critical objective of recovery of
funds would no doubt be achieved.
7. It is pertinent to restate our client’s continued support for the
anti-corruption campaign, which is necessary to ensure probity in the
affairs of Nigeria to the extent that it is conducted within the rule of
law.
8. Finally, it is our client’s prayer that this nation shall come through this difficult time by the grace of the Almighty God.
Signed:
Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN)
Counsel To Chief Olisa Metuh
