Why we don’t need Goodluck Jonathan to prove case against Metuh – EFCC

– The EFCC explained why it does not need Goodluck Jonathan as its witness to prove case against Olisa Metuh

– The anti-grafta agency stated  that the defence cannot pick and choose witnesses for the prosecution

– The EFCC urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission filed by Metuh and his firm

Olisa Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on seven counts fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it does not need former president Goodluck Jonathan as its witness in order to prove its money laundering case against Olisa Metuh, the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP spokesman and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on seven counts fraud.

He allegedly received from the office of the national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, N400m meant for the procurement of arms.

The prosecution alleged that part of the money was used by Metuh to fund the PDP presidential campaign of the for the 2015 election.

READ ALSO: EFCC amends criminal charges against Olisa Metuh

The Punch reports that the PDP spokesman has recently filed the no-case submission through his lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, claiming that the prosecution could not make any case against him without the EFCC calling Jonathan as a witness.

In its response filed on Tuesday, February 23, before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja, the anti-graft agency urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission, insisting that the former president was not needed to prove its case.

“My Lord, in paragraphs 2.22 to 2.25, the defence also contends that the prosecution, through PW8 (EFCC’s investigative officer, Junaid Sa’id) failed to investigate the statement of the 1st defendant (Metuh) to the effect that presentation was made to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and that the sum for the exercise was paid into the 2nd defendant’s account (Metuh’s firm, Destra).

“It is further contended that the former President, to whom the presentation was made for which the payment was made, is therefore a material and indispensable person in order for a prima facie case to be established.

READ ALSO: $2.1bn arms deal: How Metuh berated EFCC, makes demand in court

“Learned senior counsel (Metuh’s lawyer) therefore alleged presumption of withholding of evidence by the prosecution.

“In response to the above argument my lord, we submit that nothing can be farther from the truth. The defence cannot pick and choose witnesses for the prosecution and as rightly pointed out by the defence, the prosecution is not required to call a host of witnesses or a particular witness in proof of its case.

“What the law requires the prosecution to do is to call material witness(es) in proof of its case,” the EFCC stated.

The anti-graft agency called on the court to dismiss the no-case submission filed by Metuh and his firm and direct them to give an explanation to “the overwhelming oral and documentary evidence placed before the court by the prosecution.”

Earlier this month, the EFCC arrested Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, Goodluck Jonathan’s Aide-de-Camp.

During the interrogation, Adegbe revealed that another Dasukigate may be looming if he speaks out on the events of the last administration.

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