Anthony Okeke, a former acting national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said former President Goodluck Jonathan, had to disburse the sum of N400 million to the embattled former national publicity secretary of the PDP, Olisah Metuh to “launder” his image.
Okeke made this revelation while he was being led in evidence by Onyeachi Ikpeazu SAN, counsel to Metuh at his continued trial, over receipt of N400million to fund PDP campaign, through the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA).
Okeke who said he was not present at the initial presentation made to the former president said that, the government at that time needed to redeem its image before the populace, as it had been smear by the negativity, being circulated by the opposition.
“I am not surprised that the president promised to raise money after the inauguration, because at that time, the then president being the presidential nominee for the party would do everything in his power to launder his image and that of the party, because at that time, the election was less than three months away.
“In my own estimation before his nomination and after his nomination, there were issues that needed to be clarified. The opposition at the time and moment enmassed smear campaign against the president: they clearly tagged him clueless, with the impression that he was an ineffective and unserious president, that needed to be countered.
When asked if the eventually image laundering of the former president yielded any fruitful result, Okeke affirmed that: “I would agree that there was an improvement on the image of the president. It will be difficult for me to estimate, but there was an improvement”.
Earlier, the witness said if there is any need for real-time publicity of any event or advert, the party’s publicity makes a written request to the working committee, upon approval of the request, the spokesperson goes ahead to make the advert while waiting for the funds to be made available.
“Because these funds are not always readily available, that is how we have debts accumulated from media houses. During an election year, the party also raise funds from sale of forms and also government subversion which hardly ever comes”, he said.
When asked if during the past election, donations were made to Jonathan, Okeke answered affirmatively that : “Yes, I believe so”.
He also added that as the leader of the party, Jonathan had the right to disburse the funds donated for the party’s activities.
According to him, upon resumption of office as the acting national publicity secretary, he discovered that there were outstanding bills owed to several media houses dating back to the period after 2011 election, while it was difficult for the party to offset the debts, more bills were accumulated.
The matter was adjourned to May 24, 2016 for continuation of trial, while the application seeking for a release of Metuh’s international passport, so he could proceed to the United Kingdom for medical aid on his spinal column which is said to be rapidly compressing, was adjourned to May 25, 2016 for ruling.
Metuh is standing trial, alongside his company, Destra Investment Limited on a 7-count charge before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly receiving N400million from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
