By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

ABUJA—Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has said his decision to refund to the Federal Government, the N400 million given to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan was in demonstration of his support of the war against corruption.

Buhari and Olisa Metuh

A statement issued by Metuh’s lawer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, yesterday, also affirmed that Metuh’s friends and family were ready to refund the entire N400 million, irrespective of the fact that the sum had already been disbursed for the purpose to which he was instructed by the former president. The lawyer also affirmed that the whole N400 million was being refunded, irrespective of recoveries already made by security agencies.

The statement followed ongoing talks between the two parties on the issue, arising from the payment of N400 million to Metuh by Office of the National Security Adviser on the alleged instruction of President Jonathan for the execution of political party acitivities. Metuh had claimed that he was ignorant of the source of the transferred money at that time and only became aware of it, following the advent of the new administration.

Saying that friends and family were willing to refund the entire money in demonstration of his support of the war against corruption, the statement read: “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.

“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.”