3 cars for N400m?

A counsel to the embattled spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has debunked media reports that his client bought three operational vehicles with N400 million for the office of the National Security Adviser.

Speaking to journalists in court on Wednesday, January 27, Emeka Etiaba urged journalists to always report court proceedings accurately rather than feeding the wrong information.

Some media reports on Tuesday had it that Metuh bought three cars with N400 million he received as payment fee for contract from the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

“The media has been doing well although there are still some negative reports like the one that said Metuh bought three vehicle with N400 million, that not what was said here in court,” Etiaba said.

He said the media must bear in mind that reports on the platforms determines the mindset of the people throughout the proceedings of the matter before the court.

In court, on Tuesday, January 26, a prosecution witness 3, Bahle Ndam, a legal officer from the ONSA had told the court that item 5 and last column on exhibit B of a contact document admitted by the court listed the purchase of three operational vehicles for the ONSA.

The item, Ndam explained is just an article out some others items listed as payment of security services for the ONSA.

The payment for the contract the witness said was made without being duly awarded or carried out by Metuh’s company, Destra Investments Limited.

The payment a fourth witness, Iniobong Effiong, a staff of Diamond Bank told the court was by into Metuh’s company account through Central Bank of Nigeria.

But fielding questions from the defense counsel, Ndam also said he is not aware of details of security services rendered by Destra Investments.

He said: “By my disposition, I engage in letter drafting, vetting but not in the aspect of general security.”

He added that it is the administration and finance department of the ONSA that deals with purchase of items and not the legal department.

Metuh’s trail will also continue today, January 28 at the Federal High Court before Justice Okon Abang.