Nigeria, April 9 -- A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has told an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court that the N400 million he is accused of collecting from the federal government was spent on "special national assignment."

Mr Metuh said this during the court hearing in his trial on Tuesday.

Mr Metuh who did not state the exact task he called special national assignment, also refuted claims made by previous witnesses who had informed the court that he paid them parts of the controversial N400 million.

The former PDP spokesperson is facing trial for alleged diversion of the money through the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr Metuh, who had asked...