The trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja with the prosecution witness, Abbah Dabo telling the court that he returned the N25m he received from Metuh to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Dabo is a retired public servant and a former Special Adviser to the President in the office of the former Vice President, Namadi Sambo . He was the former editor of the Sunday New Nigeria, Kaduna, Gaskiya Tefi-Kwabo, the Hausa version.
He was also a one time Chief Press Secretary to former President, Shehu Shagari.
Dabo in his testimony told the court how the embattled PDP spokesman gave him the sum of N25m five days after the Presidential nomination Convention.
He said, “Metuh had on Dec 16, 2014 paid the sum of N25m into my personal account through his company Destra Investment for the purpose of publicity for the PDP during the last Presidential campaign.”
Dabo said sequel to the 2015 Presidential election, some concerns were raised by the party among which was negative publicity in the media and in order to address these, Metuh ” thought I could assist in the mitigation in view of my antecedent as a media man.”
He added that the money was refunded to the EFCC as he could not reach Metuh at the time, as reports in the media linked the transaction between him and the PDP spokesman to the funds meant for the procurement of arms.
“There were publications in the media linking my transaction with Metuh to controversial circumstances. It was alleged that the N25m he gave me through his company was sourced from the arms deal.
“In view of that, I decided to return the money back to THE EFCC as Metuh could not be reached.” Dabo said.
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