TheCable

Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA) has told the federal high court in Abuja that he is still not able to remember if he paid any money to Olisa Metuh.

Metuh, former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving N400 million diverted from Dasuki’s office.

Listed as defence witnesses in Metuh’s trial are Dasuki and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

When he earlier appeared before the court on Wednesday, Ahmed Raji, Dasuki’s counsel, had told the court that his client could not testify in the case due to a loss of memory.

At the resumed sitting on Friday, he told the prosecuting counsel that without access to his records while serving as NSA, he would not be able to confirm the payment of N400m to Metuh neither could he confirm the purpose the money was meant for.

Dasuki, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), is being prosecuted for allegedly diverting funds meant for purchase of arms.

The ex-NSA also said he could not recall if his office had any dealings with Destra Investments Limited, the company, through which the EFCC alleged Metuh received the said money from his office.

Sylvanus Tahir, counsel to the EFCC, then showed him details of the e-payment mandate which his name and signature is said to appear on, to which Dasuki replied: “my name has been typed out there”.

After confirming that the purpose of the payment as contained in the mandate was “payment for security services,” Tahir then asked Dasuki the services rendered by Destra Investments Limited to warrant the alleged payment of the fund.

In reply, the ex-NSA 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 court adjourned to December 4 for continuation of trial during which Jonathan is expected to appear as a witness.

Although Jonathan had asked the court to direct Metuh to pay him the sum of N1 billion for logistics and travelling expenses for him to appear as witness in the case, it had struck out the former president’s plea, insisting he must appear before it.