Those familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES That embattled spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday tore a statement he voluntarily made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission regarding his alleged involvement in the $2.1billion arms fraud being investigated by the anti-graft agency.
Those familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Metuh tore the statement after it was presented to him by the investigating officer for endorsement, as part of preparations for his prosecution.
“Rather than sign the document, Metuh on realising the weight of his confession, seized the documents and proceeded to tear them,” one of our sources said.
He added that the PDP spokesperson later tried to stuff the papers into his mouth in a bid to swallow them when he was stopped by operatives who managed to recovered the torn pieces of papers from him.
Another source in the EFCC said the attempt by Mr. Metuh to destroy a major evidence in the case against him was an offence which could attract a separate charge in court.
“The tearing of statement is tantamount to willful destruction of government property and it is a serious offence,” the official said.
“Also the fact that he obstructed operatives from performing their job is also a criminal offence. We will explore the possibility of filling a separate charge against him at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.”
The EFCC is accusing Mr. Metuh of receiving N400 million from a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is being prosecuted for allegedly mismanaging $2.1billion meant for arms procurement.
Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, told journalists Monday that Mr. Metuh was demonstrating reluctance to refund the money even after admitting receiving it from Mr. Dasuki.
”From the records, Metuh got over N400 million, he has not said anything because we need the public money to be returned so that it’s going to be used for public good,” Mr. Magu said during a meeting with online media publishers in Lagos.
“Also Jafaru Isa, what Dasuki gave him was N170 million. He also agreed…of course he has collected that money, he was with us for 4-5 days and then he made a deposit of N100 million and entered an undertaking to bring the rest. That does not mean we will not prosecute him.
“But this other Metuh, instead of going for a refund, he has admitted he collected money…. so instead of… he still has the money because the money is too much. Instead of returning the money, he preferred to go on hunger strike.”
