Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked former National Publicity Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh to pay him the sum of N1 billion to enable him appear as a defence witness in his money laundering trial.
In an application filed before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, October 30, 2017, the former president argued that the money will be used to cover travelling expenses for himself and his security personnel, from Bayelsa State where he resides. He argued that failure to provide the money means he'll refuse to appear before the court as provided by the constitution.
His application is in response to a subpoena filed by Metuh's lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), requiring the former president to appear as a witness in the ongoing trial.
Justice Abang signed the request on Monday, October 23, and required the presence of the former president at the hearing two days later but he failed to appear because he had not been served the notice by the court's bailiff.
In his application on Monday, Jonathan's first prayer to the court sought to set aside the subpoena as he argued that he had no direct link to Metuh and has no knowledge of the charges the defendant is facing.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, on a seven-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering.
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