Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, has failed to defend the payment of N400m to Olisa Metuh, former PDP national publicity secretary. Metuh had caused trial judge Okon Abang to subpoena Dasuki, alleging he authorized the payment following ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive. Having failed to stop his testimony, including his claim that he had lost memory of past events claiming a memory loss, Dasuki entered the dock during Friday’s proceedings.
Sylvanus Tahir, the prosecution counsel under cross-examination asked Dasuki if he authorized the payment to Metuh’s company, Destra Limited, and its purpose. Dasuki responded that without access to documents, he might not be able to confirm if he did or not. Dasuki also said he couldn’t remember if he had any dealing with Metuh’s company during his time as NSA in 2014.
Following his disavowal, Tahir showed Dasuki an e-payment mandate he signed and had earlier been tendered as exhibit in the case.
Sighting the document, Dasuki said: “My name has been typed out there.”
Asked to read out the purpose of the payment as contained in the “e-payment mandate”, Dasuki said: ” the purpose of payment: payment for security services.”
Then the prosecuting counsel, asked, “What services did the company, Destra Investments Limited, the second defendant render to entitle the company, the payment of N400m.”
In response, the Dasuki 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,”
Similarly, the prosecution showed another exhibit- Diamond Bank’s response to an EFCC request. Dasuki was asked to read out the content of the letter. He said: “I have seen in the document that was produced, exhibit D1, that there is an entry that purports that payment from ONSA in the sum of N400m into the account of Destra Investment Limited.”
Dasuki has concluded his testimony and has been discharged by the court.
The court is expected to hear the testimony of former President Goodluck Jonathan on December 4, its adjourned date.
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