Metuh didn’t bribe media with N400m, says counsel

Chief Olisa Metuh

Mr. Ben Nwosu, recommend to former PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh, has faulted alleged reviews that cash turned into paid to media homes or their representatives
to launder the photo of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nwosu in a assertion issued on Friday in Abuja said the rationalization turned into vital due to a misleading report in a section of the media in the case of the debatable N400m related to Metuh.

He said the report cautioned that Mr. Richard Ihediwa, the 5th defence witness, instructed the court docket that money became paid to media houses or their representatives to launder Jonathan’s photograph.

“This file is incredibly embarrassing and does now not in any manner replicate the testimony and proof of Metuh’s 5th defence witness, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, inside the court docket.

“What the witness told the court became that the sum paid into his account via Metuh changed into for bills for sundry advertorials located with the aid of Metuh in various media houses.

“The witness had in advance laid a right foundation that media advertorials from the PDP had been located and paid for by using the countrywide exposure Secretary.

“That the price changed into mostly in cash or via financial institution transfers to the media homes, thru their representatives overlaying the party.

“The witness, who's unique Assistant to our client, stated at once and clearly that every one the bills to the media had been for advertorials.

“He said that buying advertorials via representatives of the media homes became the regular practice in the media enterprise,’’ the attorney stated.

Nwosu stated the witness went beforehand to provide documents, consisting of bank tellers, to justify the payments.

“The information of the courtroom are clean in this regard. furthermore, whilst he become pass- examined concerning the advent of names of a few newshounds inside the payment tellers, the witness stated absolutely that the payments were for advertorials placed of their respective media homes.

“He confirmed documents to justify the bills, in step with the exercise within the media industry.”

He said that at no point at some point of his testimony did the witness inform the courtroom that any media house or any consultant/group of workers of any media residence changed into paid to launder Jonathan’s picture.

“we find this particularly painful. for the reason that arrest and arraignment of our client, he had by no means attempted in any manner to tug in any person and/or employer in connection together with his travail,” Nwosu stated.

but, he entreated reporters masking the court to make sure accurate reportage of occasions and lawsuits.

“We regret the embarrassment the unfortunate record should have induced the respective media homes or men and women noted inside the said deceptive reports,” Nwosu said. (NAN)