The
former Senor Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin
Okupe, told Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja on Wednesday that Jonathan
confirmed to him that he gave the sum of N400 million to Chief Olisa Metuh, the
National Publicity Secretary of PDP.
He
said the amount was to enable Metuh carry out the much desired image and pulbic
perception enhancement for the former President before his public declaration
ahead of the 2015 general election.
Okupe,
who stated this while testifying in the trial of Metuh on allegations of
receiving the sum of N400m from the office of former NSA Sambo Dasuki, told the
court that Jonathan released the sum to Metuh following his (Metuh’s)
presentation on ways to shore up the dwindled image of the former president
preparatory for the official launch of his campaign.
He
said Metuh and his team made a presentation alongside other consultants in a
meeting attended by members of the Presidential Campaign Council including the
president himself, his Vice, Namadi Sambo, the former National Chairman of the
party, Adamu Mu'azu, former Senate President, David Mark, and former governors
Liyel Imoke and Peter Obi among others.
Led
in evidence by Onyechi Ikpeazu, the lead defence counsel, Okupe said “Yes,
around that time (November 2014) there was very deep concern in the Presidency
and the government about the perception of Mr President and his administration,
negative perception by the Nigerian public. This also included some perceived
ineffectiveness of the administration and also a wrong perception in some parts
of the country about the role of government and its actions or activities
concerning the very security situation in the country then.
“Therefore,
in government, there was a general feeling that some actions needed to be taken
urgently to address these issues, especially because of the coming elections.
“It
was in the course of my discussion with Mr President when I also expressed my
own personal concerns too that he informed me that Chief Olisah Metuh had some
suggestions and that he (Jonathan) had instructed him to bring a proposition on
what he considered needed to be done and that when this is done, he would
inform me so that we can go through it together.
“Shortly
after that, I was invited to a meeting in the State house where Chief Metuh in
company of some consultants made presentations to the president. After the
presentations, there were comments form those in attendance to add or improve
in certain areas where they felt was important. The presentation was approved
for action and the President said Mr. Metuh will be given part of the money
that was in budget for the execution of the project.
On
how he knew that the Jonathan gave Metuh the money, Okupe said:
“Yes,
I know from two sources. First was the President himself who told me that he
had instructed that Chief Metuh be mobilised. And that was during breakfast
with Mr. President one morning. He told me that he had instructed that Chief
Metuh be mobilised with N400 million. The following day, very early in the
morning, I got a call from Chief Metuh who told me that he has received N400
million from the President.
Under
cross-examination by EFCC counsel Sylvanus Tahir, the witness denied knowledge
that the former NSA was the source of the money.
"I
have seen the payment mandate from the office of the former NSA to Destra but
this thing does not make any meaning to me. I want you to explain what is. I
have already stated that the President confirmed to me that he gave the N400
million to Metuh.
He
said as the leader of the party and its presidential candidate, the president
enjoys tremendous goodwill, which was demonstrated at the fundraising ceremony
organised at the Villa before the election where the sum of N21 billion, and
sums from other private sources where raised.
“The
president uses his tremendous goodwill, which he has, to assist his party or
help to execute special programmes that are aimed at improving the fortunes the
party and the government. It is natural that such payments (Metuh's) would have
come from the various amounts of money he has received as donations towards his
campaign”, he said.
Okupe
further told the court that upon being mobilized, Metuh assembled a very large
committee of various people, including media experts who he said did quite
substantial amount of work, some of which were security related while others
had to do with the image of the President and the government.
Justice
Okon Abang adjourned the case to Thursday.
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