The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the continued incarceration of its
spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh by the EFCC since Tuesday, without charging
him to court, clearly shows the dictatorial character of the President
Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government, which has not hidden its
disdain for rule of law and an appetite to gag the opposition.
The party said the continued detention is in clear breach of Chief Metuh’s
constitutionally guaranteed liberty and fundamental rights.
The PDP in a statement signed by the National Legal Adviser, Barr. Victor
Kwon on Saturday stressed that relying on a purported ‘holding charge’
said to have been derived from a Magistrate to detain Chief Metuh beyond
the statutory period allowed by the law is in total violation of the
constitution and extant corresponding rulings by several trial and
appellate courts in the country.
“We draw the attention of all Nigerians and the international community to
this illegal clamp-down on the opposition spokesman by the EFCC, using a
purported holding charge said to have been derived from a magistrate
court.
“Holding Charge which implies ‘arrest before investigation’ instead of
‘investigation before arrest’ is clearly an aberration and abuse of
judicial process which has since been declared by several courts as
illegal, null and void, and of no effect as it is totally in contradiction
with section 35 (1), (4), (5a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
“The PDP is particularly worried that Chief Metuh, since his arrest on
Tuesday, is being inhumanly kept in an underground cell where he is daily
threatened by officials, who we gathered, have been mounting pressure on
him to accept guilt of fictitious figures and implicate PDP leaders.
“The public is very much aware that the EFCC Chairman has visited the
Presidential villa at least twice since Chief Metuh was arrested and
detained by the commission, ostensibly to get further directives on the
case.
“We invite the world to note that President Buhari’s election promise of
fighting corruption has now been turned into a man-hunt of PDP leaders,
while known corrupt APC leaders are being shielded by the system and
rewarded with ministerial positions and other government appointments.
“Our nation is now being turned into a police state with its inherent
constitutional violations and infringement on rights of citizens, a
scenario which poses grave danger to national stability and survival of
our democracy.
“The PDP strongly cautions against the avoidable tension and looming
political crisis over the continuous clamp-down on our leaders and
particularly, the continued incarceration of our spokesperson, Chief Olisa
Metuh, who was arrested a few days after he confronted the Federal
Government and the APC over their dictatorial pronouncements and actions.
“Our teeming members across the country have so far exercised reasonable
restrain, but we caution that there is a limit to what they can stomach in
the face of this brazen persecution of our spokesman. The President
Buhari-led APC government and the EFCC should therefore hold themselves
responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in the land
over this matter.
“We therefore reinforce our demand on the EFCC to respect the course of
law and release Chief Metuh immediately or charge him to court in line
with the provisions of our laws if it strongly feels it has a case against
him.
“Nigerians cannot afford to return to the era of dictatorship where
constitutional provisions, respect for lawful processes and personal
freedom of citizens under the law are trampled upon. Their response to
this might come with very dire consequences.
‘Enough is Enough!