* Nneka Ararume 

The trial of  People’s Democratic Party, PDP, National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited commenced on Monday, January 25, 2016, before Justice O.E Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja with the prosecution, Economic and Financial Corrupt Commission, EFCC, presenting two witnesses.

 The first prosecution witness (PW1), Nneka Ararume, a staff of Asset Resources Managemnet, ARM while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that, she was given the sum of $2million (two million dollars) in cash by Metuh to change through a Bureau De Change operator and was asked to pay the naira equivalent into Destra Investment Limited bank account.

 Thereafter, Metuh’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, prayed the court to adjourn to a later date for cross-examination to enable him get the necessary document in respect of the claim.

 This application was vehemently objected to by the prosecution counsel.
In a bench ruling, Justice Abang refused the prayer of the defence, stating that there is no sufficient material before the court to oblige the defence of their request.

 He ordered the defence to cross-examine the witness immediately.

 Answering questions during cross-examination, Ararume maintained that, the transaction was conducted on trust and that she had no idea of how long it took the defendant to gather the said sum.

 Also testifying, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Sie Iyenome, a Bureau De Change operator, told the court that, he was contacted by PW1 to buy the sum of $1million (one million dollar).

 According to Iyenome, the transaction was done through Capital Field Investment and Trustees and the naira equivalent totaling N183m (one hundred and eighty three million naira) was paid into Destra Investment Limited bank account as agreed.

 Under cross-examination, the PW2 stated that the transaction was legal and that, it was carried out with due diligence.

 Justice Abang, thereafter, adjourned the matter to January 26, 2015 for continuation of trial.