Why Our
Client (Chief Olisa Metuh) is Offering To Refund The N400 million – Counsel
In the light
of the circumstances regarding the case of our client, Chief Olisa Metuh with
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), we want to explain the
reasons for our client's proposal to refund the N400 million released to him by
former President Goodluck Jonathan, and which was expended on a project
approved by the ex-President on national issues relating to his Presidency and
the Federal Government at that time.
1. We want
to restate that at the time the money was released to him after his
presentation to the ex-President, our client had no knowledge of the source, a
fact that is now obvious from the evidence of the prosecution and defence
witnesses. Our client had every cause to believe that the money was from the
ex-President to whom he made presentation, received directives and rendered
report and accounts accordingly.
2. When the
matter first came up and Chief Metuh was invited to the Office of the National
Security Adviser (ONSA) in December 2015, he requested to know the source of
the money and expressed his readiness to make refunds if it was from government
coffers, not minding that the money had been expended as directed by the former
President. Officials at ONSA never got back to him as they promised, until his
arrest by the EFCC in January 2016.
3. It was
however while in court that a document was brought regarding the source of the
money and since then, our Client has made manifest his willingness to refund
the money and has indeed approached his family, friends and associates to
mobilise funds to refund the entire N400 million to the government regardless
of the fact that the money had been expended based on the directives of the
former President and that part of the money had been recovered from one of the
prosecution witnesses.
4. We want
to confirm that since then, we have been in talks with the Ministry of Justice,
the EFCC and other necessary bodies on how to refund the money and resolve the
issue.
5. Our
client occupied no government office. His commitment and dedication to his
official duties have been confirmed by even prosecution witnesses. In this
whole saga, he has been an unfortunate victim of circumstances. His
refunding the money therefore goes to show his support for the anti-corruption
war as well as serve as a testament to his sincerity, integrity and honesty in
this matter.
6. There is
no doubt that the prosecution has considerably embarked on some expenses in the
course of this case. It is hoped that by not discounting the sum already
recovered, whatever cost so far incurred would have been defrayed. By this, a
critical objective of recovery of funds would no doubt be achieved.
7. It is
pertinent to restate our client's continued support for the anti-corruption
campaign, which is necessary to ensure probity in the affairs of Nigeria to the
extent that it is conducted within the rule of law.
8. Finally,
it is our client's prayer that this nation shall come through this difficult
time by the grace of the Almighty God.
Signed:
Onyechi Ikpeazu
(SAN)
Counsel To
Chief Olisa Metuh
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