The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the continued
incarceration of its spokesman, Olisa Metuh, by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since Tuesday January 5, 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, Victor
Kwon on Saturday January 9, 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.
Read the full statement below.
“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.
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