I was paid N25m by Metuh from the arms fund but I sent it to the EFCC, says Sambo’s aide

Abba Dabo, former special adviser on political matters to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, has narrated how Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gave him N25m to fight criticisms in the traditional and in the social media against former President Goodluck Jonathan. 

Dabo, however, explained that he returned the money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when he realised it was part of funds for arms purchase allegedly diverted for other purposes by Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA). “On December 16, 2014, Metuh paid N25m through Destra Investment Limited account into my personal account for purposes of publicity for the PDP,” he said. “When it became obvious that former President Goodluck Jonathan will run for office, government officials and party leaders started to meet to review the achievements of the government and prepare for the elections. “In the course of those meetings, a lot of concern was shown in the opposition’s total control of the media. 

The PDP was getting negative publicity, and ministers were told to speak more to the press to enhance the image of the government. “On my part, we set up a media support group and registered it as ‘Media Support System’ to do media work for the party. We commissioned writers to write and be paid to promote the government. “We called it rapid response team, which was successful. It was its success that led to more meetings with Metuh. “Social media was becoming more stringent in the criticism of the PDP. 

Also, Hausa radio stations were vicious in the attack of the government and the party. Chief Metuh thought I could assist in mitigating this; that was why he gave me the N25m five days after the presidential nomination convention. “With that money, we set up a team of facilitators and young IT enthusiasts to run a website called, ‘What’s up Naija’ but we could not register it because the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wanted it to be ‘What’s up Nigeria.’ “Because the money was linked to the controversial arms deal, I decided to return it. 

On my own accord, I decided the best way out of this rigmarole was to pay back the money. I paid it back to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).” Dabo is the seventh witness to testify against Metuh. Metuh, who is facing a seven-count charge of money laundering arrived at the court a few minutes before 9am, donning a black suit, and was clean shaven — a departure from how he looked when he was at Kuje prison.

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Olisa Metuh released from prison after meeting 300 Million Naira bail condition

News just reaching Info 247 Plus has it that the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Chief Olisa Metuh has been released on bail.

Metuh was released late Thursday evening of January 28 after he fulfilled his bail condition of the sum of N300 Million Naira and two sureties in like sum by a Federal High Court in Abuju on Friday.

Read Also : Picture of the Lady that that testified against Olisa Metuh

Special Adviser to Metuh, Richard Ihediwa confirmed his release to Info 247 Plus.

He said : “I can now confirm to you that I am with him now, yes, he is fine and he is in high spirit,” Ihediwa said

 Read Also : Olisa Metuh tears up and tries to chew statement   he wrote

Also PDP new director of media  Deji Adeyanju confirmed Metuh release to Info 247 Plus. 

He said “We were able to finish everything in the court at about 7 pm and left immediately,”Adeyanju said.

You will recall that Metuh is facing a seven counts charge of money laundering involving the sum of N400m, part of the $2.1bn arms fund which he allegedly collected from former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.  His trial has been adjourned to February 4, 2016.

Read Also : Metuh TRIED over alleged destruction of evidence

Meanwhile the PDP has described the appearance of Olisa Metuh in hand cuffs during his trial as an action meant to destroy the image of the the party and present it before the glaring eyes of the world as a party of corrupt individuals even when they were yet to be convicted by any competent court.

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#DasukiGate; Thisday Newspaper owner, Nduka Obaigbena Surrenders Himself To EFCC

The publisher of Thisday newspaper and the owner of Arise TV, has reportedly surrendered himself at on Tuesday morning to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in Abuja. He is linked to the ongoing Dasukigate. He allegedly received N500m to provide positive coverage of GEJ during the 2015 presidential elections. . 

In a letter to the EFCC, he claimed he received the money on behalf of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), although he denied that the money came from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Dasuki..... 

Obaigbena, 52, is the chairman of Leaders & Company, which publishes ThisDay, easily Nigeria’s most influential newspaper. Obaigbena has often been the subject of intense criticism by local and international media for his closeness to politicians, particularly those of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In April, an Al-Jazeera Television programme indirectly referred to Obaigbena as a corrupt journalist who blackmailed public officials for financial compensation. He refuted the allegations; Al-Jazeera issued an apology shortly afterwards.

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HOW OLISA METUH BEAT UP BRITISH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND DROVE HIM OFF IN CAR BOOT

67-year old Kola Pele, the Vice-Principal of British Nigerian Academy, Prince & Princess Estate, Abuja, who has taught in numerous schools and nurtured many pupils, has narrated how the embattled PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, invaded his school with policemen, beat him up and bundled him inside his car booth.

It was learnt that the school vice principal was going about his duty at the last BNA visiting day when the then National Vice-Chairman (South-East), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, invaded the school with his wife, policemen as well as aides and allegedly assaulted him and other teachers for confiscating his son’s GSM phone.

Metuh, a lawyer-turned politician, allegedly held Pele by the throat and reportedly ordered an aide to put him in his car boot, saying ‘No police IG or SSS can secure your release.’

The incident, which occurred on February 19, 2011, caused panic among the teachers and over 50 pupils that witnessed the incident as the affected teachers later filed a lawsuit seeking N250m for general damages, N10m for punitive damages and N350, 000 for medical bills. The writ was issued by Joseph Dauda (SAN), the Nigeria Bar Association President.

According to Pele, he went to the hostels around 6.30pm to check if the parents had dispersed, when a teacher, Ms. Amuche Igbe, informed him that she saw Metuh’s son, Derrick, a former pupil of the school, giving his GSM phone to pupils to use in violation of the school rules.

The BNA VP explained that Amuche seized the phone, handed it to him and he dropped it in his office. But he said a few minutes after, three jeeps drove into the school premises at top speed and Metuh alighted from the lead car.

“The jeeps drove round and round and this attracted pupils and staff. Metuh alighted and said, ‘who is Pele here’ and I said I am. He said, ‘where is my son’s phone. Before I could speak, he held my throat and pushed me to the ground. He said his boys should put me and another teacher, Babatunde Adedayo, in the car boot and that no police IG or SSS can release us,” Pele said.

According to him, a teacher, Hamzat Muftau, who was pleading with the PDP leader to calm down, was knocked to the ground by one of Metu’s aides.

He alleged that Metuh’s aides forcibly held Mufutau’s hands and took away his office keys and phone in an attempt to get him to release Derrick‘s phone. Incidentally, Derrick is no longer a pupil of the school as he was withdrawn in December 2010 while in Senior Secondary 2.

Pele stated that the teachers, who were apprehensive that he might be killed, advised him to release the phone, adding that the PDP leader had no right to visit the school as his son was no longer a pupil, adding that Metuh’s police aides did not intervene when he was being molested.

He further said that although the incident was reported at Garki Police Station, the Investigating Police Officer identified simply as Felicia said ‘Metuh could not be arrested because he is a big man, but could only be invited.’

Muftau, who corroborated Pele’s claim, stated that she saw Derrick chatting with some female pupils and asked him to leave the school, but instead of leaving, he walked towards the male hostel, saying he wanted to retrieve his phone.

She said, “A pupil offered to get the phone for him, but Derrick insisted on collecting it himself. There is a gap in the gate through which a hand held out the phone, but before Derrick could take the phone, I collected it from the person, but I could not identify the pupil who brought it out.”

Muftau also explained that every attempt to placate Metuh on the day was rebuffed as he insisted on having the phone.

“As I was begging him to take it easy, he said I should just get him the phone, and that it is very expensive and can buy 200 of my own. As I moved closer to him, his aide kicked me in the legs and I fell; he said I was touching his boss. I suffered body pains, but I am better now.”

Another eyewitness, Adedayo, a housemaster, described the incident as a show of shame, which might have degenerated into a serious violence if more staff were around.

“When Metuh grabbed the VP by the throat, I moved to intervene, but he asked his aide to put me and the VP in the boot of his jeep, and boasted that no IG or SSS can release us,” he explained.

When contacted, Metuh said nobody was man-handled, insisting that the allegation was ‘a lie to cover up their (the teachers’) incompetence and stupidity.’

He said, “They don’t have the right to seize someone’s phone. The school never has such rule on a visiting day. During the visiting day, the pupils have the right to use the phone. When he was in the school, my son took my phone and used it there. The rule doesn‘t say anything about using phone on a visiting day.

“Why do they have to victimise a pupil because he left the school? My son and wife were the victims. I don’t want to take issues with them because the owner of the school is my friend. But I welcome the law suit; let them serve me the writ.”

*This article was originally published in Punch on March 11, 2011*.

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Metuh TRIED over alleged destruction of evidence

Chief Olisa Metuh

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today, docked the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, on a two-count charge bordering on his alleged destruction of evidence against him.

Metuh who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was again brought to court  ‎in handcuffs by prison officials.

EFCC told the court that ‎the PDP spokesman who is also facing another seven-count criminal charge before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, tore and attempted to chew a confessional statement he made under caution while undergoing interrogation.

 READ ALSO : OLISA METUH TEARS UP AND TRIES TO EAT STATEMENT HE WROTE

The anti-graft agency maintained that the said statement would have been vital to its prosecution of the criminal ‎case pending against Metuh before the Federal High Court.

It said that Metuh, by his action, committed an offence  contrary to sections 166 and 326 of the Penal Code Act.

Meantime,‎ Justice Ishaq Bello has adjourned hearing on Metuh’s bail application till Monday.

It will be recalled that Justice Abang ‎had on Tuesday, granted Metuh bail to the tune of N400million.

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Photos of Alex badeh house seized yesterday by EFCC. 15 cars also recovered from the house

Alex Sabundu Badeh is a retired Air Chief Marshal of the Nigerian Air Force. He is a former Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Defence Staff who served under President Goodluck Jonathan and his name has been mentioned in the raging corruption scandal. Yesterday, the EFCC sealed off one of his mansions in Abuja located at No 19 Kumasi Crescent, Abuja. Many Nigerians are enraged with the report that the sum of N1 trillion has been traced to the accounts of four former service chiefs 

The house was reportedly occupied by his son, Tony Badeh, a pilot, and his family. Tony and his family reportedly got a hint of the EFCC storming the house and he was already out of the country to South Africa with his family when the EFCC operatives swooped on the house. When the EFCC operatives arrived the house, the gateman said he and other domestic staff could do next to nothing and he had to call his boss, Mr. Tony Badeh, who told them not to offer any resistance to the EFCC and allow them entry to the house.

Residents around the area alleged that EFCC operatives had been monitoring the house for two weeks. One of them said the EFCC went away with about 15 luxury cars before sealing off the house.

See the photos below:

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Olisa Metuh tears up and tries to chew statement he wrote

The Former spokes person of the Peoples Democratic Party who is currently facing investigation for receiving 400 million Naira which is believed to be part of the $2.1 billion arms fraud being investigated by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday tore up the statement he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.

 Mr Metuh tore the statement after it was presented to him by the investigating officer for proof reading and endorsement of his signature.

“But instead of signing the document, he seized the documents and shredded it. He later tried to stuff the papers with the aim of swallowing it but was stopped by operatives. Only a few pieces of the document was recovered from his actions.

According to our source in the EFCC, Metuh may face a seperate prosecution for attempting to destroy a major evidence

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EFCC set to probe Former vice President

The EFCC has begun investigation into the office of the former vice president of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo over his involvement in the $2.1bn arms procurement scandal currently being investigated.

The EFCC is looking into transactions involving Former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki and the office of the vice president.

It has been revealed that a company called Destra Investment which is owned by the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, allegedly paid N25m (125568.20 Dollars) to Abba Dabo, a former special adviser to Sambo in December, 2014.

Read Also : I will expose more people who shared money with me says Dasuki

The former vice president came under the radar because he was the coordinator of PDP presidential campaign in the north during the last general election and some of the funds Dasuki disbursed was for the PDP election preparation.

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Former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah returns 100 million Naira (502161 Dollars) out of the 170 million Naira (853673 Dollars) stolen money received

The former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah had returned N100m out of the N170m he collected and was he has been  given administrative bail to source for the balance of N70m by the EFCC.
The money is part of the 2.1 billion dollars loot that is currently investigated by the EFCC which has led to the arrest of top politicians in Nigeria

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We Don’t Have Any Document To Use Against Jonathan And Arrest Him – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday said it has no reason to invite former President Goodluck Jonathan over the unfolding $2.1b arms scandal involving the Office of former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki as no document had been traced to him that gave any approval for the disbursement of the money for any other purpose than arms purchase.

The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Monday in Lagos told a gathering of online news publishers under the aegis of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) that all those questioned so far in connection with the money were people who disbursed or collected it for reasons other than the purchase of arms and ammunition.

Alarmed by the revelations, the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has, however, asked Dr Jonathan to speak out.

This came as the anti-graft commission disclosed that one of the beneficiaries, the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah had returned N100m out of the N170m he collected and was given administrative bail to source for the balance of N70m

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PDP warns Jonathan to speak up on 2.1 Billion dollars Probe

THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged former president and the candidate of the party in 2015 general elections, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to explain light on the alleged diversion of the $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase into his presidential campaign.

Former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and five others have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Peter Afen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 22-count charge of conspiracy, bribery, abuse of office and criminal breach of trust (aka Dasukigate).

Yuguda was charged alongside with Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), a former National Security Adviser (NSA); Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration NSA’s office, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafawara, a former governor of Sokoto State; Sagir Attahiru, his son and Dalhatu Investment Limited.

Former National Chairman of the party and Acting Chairman Board of Trustees, Dr. Haliru Bello, was last Tuesday arraigned with his son, Abba and their company, BAM Projects and Properties Limited over their alleged roles in the $ 2.1 billion arms deal during the Jonathan administration.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Jalo, said Jonathan must break his silence on the investigation of certain stalwarts of the PDP to save the party from the public odium the probe has generated. Jalo said: “As all of you know, no single kobo can be spent by the Federal Govern- ment without an Act of the National Assembly. Money earmarked for arms pur- chase, some people diverted it to something else. So many people that you cannot even expect were involved. Now, darkness has come to light.

“Jonathan is alive, he should clarify whether he asked his former NSA to dis- tribute money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign.”

Jalo, who insisted that the transactions between the party chieftains facing trial did not receive the blessing of the former president, noted that a dinner was organised by the Presidency in conjunction with the party to raise funds specifically for Jonathan’s campaign.

“All of you are aware that there was a dinner, where money meant for campaign was realised. That’s known to all of us, billions of naira were given by business ty- coons in this country.

“So, why should somebody now tell us that money meant for arms and appropriated by the National Assembly was diverted into PDP campaign.

“Haliru Bello did a con- tract with the office of Sambo Dasuki to the tune of N600 million with his company’s name, not PDP.

“In the case of Olisa Metuh, his company allegedly had transactions with the office of National Security Adviser. So, what is PDP business with that?

“We want those people that have been accused to shed light, whether they were given the money to campaign for Jonathan.”

“Did they bring the money to the party’s national secretariat? “PDP has nothing to do with individuals that used their companies to do con- tracts with National Security Adviser,” he said.

Source: SUN NEWS

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EFCC Begins Second Phase Of $2.1bn Arms Deal Probe; Okonjo-Iweala, Ex-service Chiefs To Be probed

A second round of investigation into the $2.1billion arms deals is to be commenced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) tomorrow.

Top of the probe agenda is how the Jonathan Administration spent €3,654,121million

to purchase security vehicles for the Republic of Niger in October 2013 and April 2014.

The cash was withdrawn from the ONSA account in two installments of €1, 401,869 and €2,252,252.25.

The commission is also seeking to verify whether or not the vehicles were bought and under what diplomatic or bilateral security cooperation.

It was gathered that it would require finding out from the Republic of Niger if there was such assistance from Nigeria.

The agency plans to quiz a number more public figures including Minister of Finance in the Jonathan administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, some ex-Service Chiefs and serving military officers in connection with the $2.1billion arms deal.

Some suspects may be taken into custody in the process,sources hinted yesterday.

The EFCC,it was gathered, is through with the first phase of the probe of the arms deals which led to the arraignment of ex-National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and 10 others.

The interrogation of the likes of Dasuki and the others now facing trial or about to be arraigned seems to have convinced the agency of diging deper than originally planned.

A top source said: “We are beginning the second phase of the ongoing investigation of the $2.1b arms deals on Monday. From the preliminary findings, the scandal is mind-boggling.

“We are going to question more high-profile serving and former public officers, including a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the release of some funds.

“We want the ex-Minister to shed more light on how about $322million was disbursed to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).

“Some serving and former military chiefs will have to respond to issues which we have already isolated for clarification.”

The source said investigators have already obtained the list of military equipment which were bought and the inventory by the Armed Forces.

“This explains why some serving and former military chiefs will need to come and assist our investigators,”he said.

“Some of the companies which supplied these equipment have been contacted too.”

On the purchase of security vehicles for Niger Republic,the EFCC is said to have established that the money by ONSA on the purchase of vehicles for Niger Republic was withdrawn from the ONSA account in two installments of €1, 401,869 and €2,252,252.25,

The commission is keen to confirm whether or not the vehicles were bought and under what diplomatic or bilateral security cooperation.

It was gathered that it would require finding out from the Republic of Niger if there was such assistance from Nigeria.

The initial cash of €1, 401,869 was drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria in an October 2013 through ONSA memo ACCT/87/VOL.1/384

The second tranche of €2,252,252.25 was got from the CBN in an April 1, 2014 via a memo ACCT/87/VOL.1/60

The first memo to the CBN Governor, “Transfer of foreign exchange”, said: “You are please requested to transfer the sum of €1, 401,869.00 only in favour of SEI Societe d’equipments internanaux-Niamey-Niger BP 11737 as payment for the supply of security vehicles to Republic of Niger. The wire transfer details are as follows: Banque: SONIBANK (Republique du Niger-Niamey). Compete N025111123981/22. Code Banque:80064. Code Guichrt: 01001.

“The amount should be charged to National Security Adviser Account no. 0020172241019 with the Central Bank of Nigeris Abuja and all charges thereto.

“Please accept the assurances of the National Security Adviser.”

A second memo said: “You are please requested to transfer the sum of €2, 252, 252.25 only in favour of SEI Societe d’equipments internanaux-Niamey-Niger BP 11737 as payment for the supply of security vehicles to Republic of Niger. The wire transfer details are as follows: Banque: SONIBANK (Republique du Niger-Niamey). Compete N025111123981/22. Code Banque: 80064. Code Guichrt: 01001.

“The amount should be charged to National Security Adviser Account no. 0020172241019 with the Central Bank of Nigeria,Abuja and all charges thereto.

“Please accept the assurances of the National Security Adviser.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC has intensified its collaboration with the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom with the ongoing probe of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on October 2 arrested Diezani and four others.

The identities of the remaining four suspects are yet to be unveiled.

But all the suspects are being investigated for alleged bribery and money laundering.

The EFCC source, who is actively involved in the ongoing investigation, said: “We have been collaborating with NCA on Diezani’s case which has reached an appreciable level.

“We have the details of others arrested with Diezani but we will not disclose until the matter gets to a convenient bend.

“So far, we have been comparing notes with NCA on a faster note in terms of tracking a few transactions and documents. There is no hiding place for the ex-Minister and her alleged accomplices.

“By the time the trial begins, the NCA and EFCC would have established a solid case against the ex-Minister and other suspects.”

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