The embattled spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has reportedly ran into a fresh trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for tearing his voluntary statement to the commission.
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Threatening to give the issue an global dimension should he be kept in detention without bail, the caucus said “the continued incarceration of the party’s spokesperson violates the law and borders on witch hunt”.
He was said to have jumped bail and the lawyer who stood surety for him had to be arrested in his place until his rearrest outside the court in Lagos after he resisted their directives to return with them to the EFCC office.
They noted that if Metuh was not released after the expiration of their ultimatum, they will be left with no option than to follow all democratic processes on the matter, including going worldwide if need be.
Another issue raised by the PDP caucus is what the members in the House of Representatives termed preferential treatment given to a member of the ruling party, Mr Jafaru Isa who was also arrested over the same diversion of funds but released eight hours later.
It is alleged that the funds went missing during the reign of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
“EFCC lacks the power to say refund money”.
Magu said it was most unfortrunate for anyone to say that the war aginst graft was selective, adding that his agency is not teleguided in the ongoing anti-corruption fight.
The minority leader hinted that the House would look into the $2.1 billion scam, saying that the legislature never approved such sum of money.
“In further exercise of his rights, Chief Metuh has also indicated his readiness to make public the nature of this assignment, but only in an open court in line with the laws of the land, and where his statement would not be distorted by anybody”.
“Metuh, therefore, believes that his continued incarceration and failure to charge him to court are deliberately meant to prevent him from telling his own story in the open court for all Nigerians to know”.
“In all the cases, we conduct preliminary investigation”. “We will explore the possibility of filing a separate charge against him at the Federal Capital Territory High Court”, the source said.
“An order directing the first respondent to produce the applicant before the court and to show cause why he should not be released from custody, pending the determination of the suit”.
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The suit has not been assigned to any judge and a hearing date is yet to be fixed.
