Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Olisa Metuh Gave Me $2m To Invest – Witness Tells Court

 The trial of the Spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited commenced on Monday, January 25, 2016, before Justice O.E Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja with the prosecution, EFCC, presenting two witnesses. One of the witness, Nicole Nneka Ararume recalled how she transferred  $2million into his company, Destra Investment Limited.

Metuh is standing trial for alleged money laundering involving N400 million meant for the purchase of arms to combat the Boko Haram insurgency which he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in November, 2014.

The first Prosecution Witness (PWI), Nicole Nneka Ararume, a Wealth Manager with Asset and Resource Management Company Limited [ARM], opened her evidence-in-chief amid stiff objection from Metuh’s lead lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu [SAN], who said they needed more time to prepare their defence.

Mrs. Ararume narrated how she collected $2million from Metuh at his house in Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja with an instruction that same be invested.

According to her testimony, she changed the money to its naira equivalent through two Bureau de Change [BDC] operators.

“I know the first defendant [Metuh], he is the owner of Destra Investment Limited [second defendant]which is our client. When I got to his house [Metuh] at Prince and Princess Estate, there were visitors in the living room and he invited me into his office in the house. We discussed the portfolio after which he gave me $2 million  in $100 bills.

“This is to be taken to the bureau de change operators who will then transfer the money to ARM for investment. From there (Metuh’s house), I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2 where I gave him $1million”, she said.The trial of the Spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited commenced on Monday, January 25, 2016, before Justice O.E Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja with the prosecution, EFCC, presenting two witnesses. One of the witness, Nicole Nneka Ararume recalled how she transferred  $2million into his company, Destra Investment Limited.

Metuh is standing trial for alleged money laundering involving N400 million meant for the purchase of arms to combat the Boko Haram insurgency which he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in November, 2014.

The first Prosecution Witness (PWI), Nicole Nneka Ararume, a Wealth Manager with Asset and Resource Management Company Limited [ARM], opened her evidence-in-chief amid stiff objection from Metuh’s lead lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu [SAN], who said they needed more time to prepare their defence.

Mrs. Ararume narrated how she collected $2million from Metuh at his house in Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja with an instruction that same be invested.

According to her testimony, she changed the money to its naira equivalent through two Bureau de Change [BDC] operators.

“I know the first defendant [Metuh], he is the owner of Destra Investment Limited [second defendant]which is our client. When I got to his house [Metuh] at Prince and Princess Estate, there were visitors in the living room and he invited me into his office in the house. We discussed the portfolio after which he gave me $2 million  in $100 bills.

“This is to be taken to the bureau de change operators who will then transfer the money to ARM for investment. From there (Metuh’s house), I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2 where I gave him $1million”, she said.

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