The embattled former National Publicity Secretary to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Olisa Metuh has told the court that he cannot afford the sum of N1 billion to give former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear as his defence.
It will be recalled that Former President Goodluck Jonathan has earlier asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to compel Metuh, to pay N1billion to cover his travel expenses to appear as a defence witness in Metuh’s trial.
Speaking today at the continuation of his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja with respect to the prayer seeking for a deposit of N1bilion, Metuh says he does not have N1 billion to give the Former President Goodluck Jonathan.
It is his belief that the figure is punitive and meant to frustrate his effort at obtaining evidence that will assist him in the defence of his case.
He adds that it is his view that from the first day he was arrested that the release of the money for which he is standing trial was authorised by the Former President and released by the former National Security Adviser at his prompting.
However, he says that if the application is to save the nation from the embarrassment of docking a Former President, it would have been aborted if the charge against Metuh was not preferred.
Haven gotten this far it is the defendant’s position that this application should be struck out.
Ctv
