Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday denied the petition written against him by the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, asking for the transfer of his corruption trial to another judge.
Olisah Metuh
The judge disclosed in the open court on Thursday that one of Metuh’s lawyers, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), had sent a petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, asking for the reassignment of the case to another judge.
The judge disclosed this while considering an application by one of Metuh’s lawyers, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), asking for an adjournment due to the absence of the leader of the defence team, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), who was said to be on a trip to the University of Ilorin for an eye surgery.
Justice Abang said he never knew Metuh to be his classmate in the law school as alleged in the petition sent to the chief judge.
Justice Abang also denied the allegation that he deliberately held back the record of the proceedings of the trial from the defence team.
The judge, who said he would resist any blackmail, insisted that despite the petition written against him by Etiaba, apparently on Metuh’s instructions, he would continue to hear the case except if the Chief Judge directed otherwise.
He said, “I want to say that I have a circular by my employer, the National Judicial Council, that where there is a petition in a matter seeking the transfer of a case to another judge, that the judge handling the case shall continue to preside over the matter until a decision is taken by the authority that the petition was addressed to.
“On account of this circular, I shall continue to preside over this matter until the honourable Chief Judge of this court takes a decision on Emeka Etiaba’s petition.”
The judge faulted Etiaba for failing to serve the petition on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which is prosecuting the case, so as to enable it to respond to the application.
The judge said Etiaba’s act of serving a letter with respect to a pending case on the Chief Judge without serving it on the other party was a breach of Rule 30(5) of the Rules of Code of Conduct for Legal Practitioners.
The judge said, “The prosecution ought to have been availed with that letter so that they could also be heard before the Chief Judge takes a decision on the petition. It is not only the defence that is entitled to justice.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the defendants are also entitled to justice. Emeka Eitiaba ought to have served a copy of that letter on the prosecution so that they would have the opportunity to react to the view expressed by him.
“There are three grounds in the letter – one: that some of the decisions the court took were given in favour of the prosecution; two: that the court refused to release the record of proceedings. The record of proceedings has been released to the defendants two days ago. It comprises 212 pages.”
Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, who are being prosecuted by the EFCC, were scheduled to open their defence on Thursday.
The accused persons are being prosecuted on seven counts of fraud bordering on the N400m which they allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser as well as money laundering involving cash transaction of $2m.
But responding to a similar question put across to him by the judge, Adedipe, who led the defence on Thursday, said, “Any letter written by any member of the defence counsel is a decision of the defence team.”
The judge subsequently granted Adedipe’s application for adjournment and fixed March 23 for Metuh to open his defence.
The judge noted that the case had already been adjourned three times before Thursday at the instance of the defence.
He warned the defence team to be mindful of section 396(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which he said prohibits parties in a criminal trial from taking more than five adjournments.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it does not require former President Goodluck Jonathan as its witness in order to prove its money laundering case against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh.
Olisah Metuh
The EFCC stated this in its response filed before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja to oppose the no-case submission by Metuh.
Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on seven counts fraud.
The charges include allegations that he fraudulently received from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November, 2014 the sum of N400m meant for the procurement of arms and money laundering involving $2m cash transaction.
The prosecution alleged that part of the N400m was used by Metuh to fund the PDP’s presidential campaign for the 2015 election in which Jonathan was the party’s candidate.
After the prosecution closed its case, Metuh on February 18, sought and obtained the leave of court to file a no-case submission.
In the no-case submission, Metuh urged the court to discharge and acquit him on the grounds that the EFCC had made no case against him with the eight prosecution witnesses called and all the documents tendered.
Metuh, who filed the no-case submission through his lead counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the prosecution could never have been able to make any case against him without the EFCC calling Jonathan as a witness in view of the testimony by PW5 (fifth prosecution witness).
He argued that since PW5 (the Managing a Director of CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya), had testified that he made presentation on a media campaign proposal to Jonathan and for which money was paid from the N400m, the former President was a vital witness that ought to be called by the prosecution.
Justice Abang had fixed Thursday to entertain argument for and against the no-case submission.
Meanwhile, the EFCC, in its response, which it filed on Tuesday, urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission, insisting that Jonathan was not needed to prove its case.
It stated, “My Lord, in paragraphs 2.22 to 2.25, the defence also contends that the prosecution, through PW8 (EFCC’s investigative officer, Junaid Sa’id) failed to investigate the statement of the 1st defendant (Metuh) to the effect that presentation was made to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and that the sum for the exercise was paid into the 2nd defendant’s account (Metuh’s firm, Destra).
“It is further contended that the former President, to whom the presentation was made for which the payment was made, is therefore a material and indispensable person in order for a prima facie case to be established.
“Learned senior counsel (Metuh’s lawyer) therefore alleged presumption of withholding of evidence by the prosecution.
“In response to the above argument my lord, we submit that nothing can be farther from the truth. The defence cannot pick and choose witnesses for the prosecution and as rightly pointed out by the defence, the prosecution is not required to call a host of witnesses or a particular witness in proof of its case.
“What the law requires the prosecution to do is to call material witness(es) in proof of its case.”
The anti-graft agency, through his lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission filed by Metuh and his firm and direct them to give an explanation to “the overwhelming oral and documentary evidence placed before the court by the prosecution.”
Insisting that a “prima facie case of money laundering has been established” against the accused, Tahir added, “Your Lordship is further urged to dismiss or discountenance the no-case submission and call upon the defendants to enter their defence.”
Concerning counts one and two, Tahir argued that the evidence led by the prosecution was uncontroverted “as it raises a prima facie case of taking possession and control of the stated sum (N400m) and therefore calls for an explanation by the defendants and this they can only do in their defence to the charge”.
On the other leg of the two counts, alleging that the N400m was part of proceeds of alleged corrupt act of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), Tahir asked whether it was not unlawful for the ex-NSA “to have, in breach of public trust reposed in him, misappropriated government funds in favour of the defendants, who on the evidence, had no contractual dealings with the ONSA”.
On count three in which Metuh and his firm were accused of retaining or concealing the sum of N400m, the EFCC argued that the accused “retained the sum of N400m on behalf of the PDP for its campaign activities by concealing the said sum in their Diamond Bank account.
It said Metuh ought to have known that the fund “directly represented the proceeds of an unlawful act” of the ex-NSA.
Concerning count four, Tahir stated that the prosecution had led evidence to show that the N400m was used for campaign activities of the PDP and other personal purposes.
On counts five and six relating to making cash transactions of a sum of $2m, far above the statutory threshold of N5m for individuals and N10m for corporate bodies, the anti-graft agency alleged that the accused violated Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
The EFCC stated, “The point to note in this transaction are the following, which are vital:
“The origin of the initial sum of $2m, which belongs to either of the defendants remained undocumented (which goes against the very essence of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act i.e. financing terrorism and disguising, concealment or laundering the origin of illicit funds.”
The anti-graft agency added, “All the above points my lord, go to show the length to which the defendants went to conceal the origin of the $2m.’’
Meanwhile, the EFCC said some Asian countries, especially China, are frustrating its anti-corruption efforts.
The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said this on Tuesday in Abuja when the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria paid the commission a courtesy visit.
The representative from First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Nelson Uduak, had earlier lamented that Japan and China were not helping Nigeria in the area of anti-fraud cases.
He said, “Some countries appear very difficult to operate in. There are some countries in which our banks have lost money. There are some fraudsters which we are able to trace but once the money gets to certain countries like Japan or China, you find out that there is no cooperation.
“If it is the United States, you can be sure to a large extent, that once you can identify the person (suspect), you will get cooperation; but there is no such cooperation in the Asian countries. We don’t know how you can help us.”
Magu, in his response, agreed that China had not been helpful in the anti-graft war.
He said, “The cooperation from the Chinese end has been very minimal, it is not encouraging. There is more collaboration from the US, the United Kingdom and Switzerland essentially through INTERPOL or government to government.”
Magu added that the EFCC was tracing a $2bn fund belonging to First Bank, which was transferred to London, but did not explain further.
The EFCC boss also urged bankers to assist in the fight against corruption as the commission could not do it alone.
“You are auditors while we are investigators; so, in a way, we are doing the same thing. We need to synergise, work together. We are all stakeholders and we are in a war. We also ask for your support,” he said.
The representative of Heritage Bank, Mr. Manny Ugbomah, urged the commission to give its personnel the permission to travel out of the country with bank representatives whenever they were carrying out trans-border investigations.
The Chinese embassy in Nigeria could not be reached for comment as its spokesman, Chen Pen, did not respond to calls and a message sent to his mobile on Tuesday.
The Japanese embassy could also not be reached for reaction as its Media Relations Officer, John Nwankwo, could not be reached on the telephone.
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the newly elected Chairman, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff is substantive and not acting National Chairman of the party contrary to speculations by a section of the media (not NAIJA CENTER NEWS)
The PDP spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh in a communique released on Thursday made the confirmation.
Metuh said “His appointment by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party in its 68th meeting last Tuesday, to replace Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, who resigned as National Chairman, is in line with section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution, which empowers NEC to fill a vacant position with a person from the zone where the officer originated from.
The PDP therefore urges the media and members of the public to note this accordingly.
The embattled National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has regained his freedom. Metuh is facing trial over alleged N400 million fraud.
Metuh, was arrested by four operatives of the anti-graft agency from his Abuja home on January 5.
Metuh and his firm, Destra Investment Limited, were charged before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court over alleged N400 million fraud.
The charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016, was signed by the Assistant Director, Legal & Prosecution Department of the EFCC, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir.
ABUJA—An official of Diamond Bank Plc, Eno-Mfon Effiong, yesterday, told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that the National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, who is facing trial over alleged N400 million fraud, ran five separate accounts with the bank.
Olisa Metuh in Court
Effiong, who told the court that she was the account officer to Metuh’s firm, Destra Investment Limited, explained that the company already had a balance of N6,676,576 in its account, prior to the date the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, credited it with N400 million on November 24, 2014.
The witness, who testified as the PW-3 yesterday, said she was not surprised by “the credit inflows” into the account, 0040437573, considering that both Metuh and his firm were regarded by the bank as “high network customers.”
She explained that high network customers were those that have high credit inflow into their accounts, saying “this is usually because the person is either a captain of industry, a high earning individual or an established businessman.”
Effiong told the court that she had been managing Destra’s account since it was opened on February 10, 2013.
Meanwhile, a move by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir to tender the bank account details and correspondence between Diamond Bank and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, pertaining to the financial status of the firm, was opposed by Metuh’s lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN).
Etiaba complained that some of the documents did not fulfill the provisions of the Evidence Act as they were not tendered through those that made them.
However, Justice Okon Abang dismissed the objection, stressing that the said error did not affect the probative value or weight of the evidence contained in the document.
Consequently, the court admitted the letters EFCC wrote to Diamond Bank, the bank’s response and a Certificate of Identification, dated January 11, 2015, signed by one Matilda Obigho of Compliance Department of the bank, into evidence.
Also, application for variation of the bail conditions, imposed on Metuh January 19, was moved in court yesterday by Mr. Etiaba.
He pleaded with the court to vary some of the terms, especially the aspect that made it mandatory that his sureties must own landed properties at the Maitama district of Abuja.
Delivering his bench ruling yesterday, Justice Abang said he was minded to exercise his discretion in favour of the defendant.
Consequently, the court modified the bail conditions and held that the proposed sureties should be owners of verifiable landed properties in any district of the Federal Capital Territory.
The court, however, refused to cancel the aspect of the conditions that gave EFCC the nod to verify and confirm that Metuh has fulfilled the bail conditions.
The trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Olisa Metuh, has started, with the opposition party’s spokesman requesting for a variation of his bail conditions.
Mr Metuh made the request before his trial began on Monday.
However, because the prosecution was just served, the trial judge, Justice Abang Obong, deferred hearing on the issue to January 27.
He, however, declined to adjourn the trial, asking the first prosecution witness to testify.
On Friday, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court granted Mr Metuh bail in the sum of 300 million Naira and two sureties in like sum.
In the ruling, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, stressed that the sureties must be resident in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
Mr Metuh is facing a seven-count charge of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering.
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said there is nothing wrong handcuffing Mr. Olisah Metuh, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to answer to charges of corruption leveled against him in relation to the $2.1bn Arms fund.
Governor Oshiomhole
Speaking during a meeting with the new Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, led by Sir Roland Osakwe in Benin City today, the Governor said those who are accused of stealing he-goats are handcuffed and paraded by the police and get no sympathy from the public, why then should Metuh and others who diverted huge public funds be treated with respect and sympathy?
Oshiomhole said, “I want to appeal to the Media to join President Buhari in fighting the anti-corruption war because if we don’t, and we allow these people to harass the President to silence, all of us are in trouble.
“I saw some headlines querying why should Metuh be in handcuffs. If people who steal he-goats, dried grass cutters are in handcuffs; I have been to the Police Station several times and I see young men who rob not more than N500,000 naira in handcuffs, they are paraded and made them to seat on the floor. Why should certain set of criminals be treated as if they are not suspected criminals and serious crimes at that?
“When you all reported lavishly how under the former President, the former Defense Chief set up a Military Tribunal to try Soldiers who ran away from battle field and they were condemned to death. It was only Femi Falana who was consistent in fighting their case. Those are Nigerians who were to be killed for running away because they couldn’t confront a Boko Haram that was well armed while they were asked to go and fight with their bare hands and we were told that weapons, ammunitions and everything had been provided”.
Olisa Metuh in Court
Oshiomhole continued, “When Borno Governor said, ‘look, our Armed Forces are fighting with bare hands’, he was told to shut up. Now it is clear from current revelations that the money that would have been used to arm these young men who joined the army with pride and who on a good day have the courage to fight not only at home but abroad, but because they didn’t have arms, they ran away. They were sentenced to death. Thanks to Buhari, some have been commuted now to various terms of imprisonment which I applaud and I think even that one should further be reviewed, they should summit their uniform but remain free people.
“Now, those who shared that money, this is not the usual security money, this is special appropriation to fight Boko Haram, $2.1 billion, people just shared it, everybody was using their son, co-opting young children into this while other people’s children were sentenced to death. And anybody who partakes in that and they put him in handcuffs, they say, why should he be in handcuff because he is an elite and the media will report it without also showing us pictures of some Nigerians whose fathers are not known, but are not less Nigerian than any of us, who are always not only in handcuffs but are put on the floor in various police stations and paraded even before they are charged to court and we all look at them and turn to the next pictures, it doesn’t attract a commentary.
“Why should some criminals just be celebrated even when we all can feel the amount of damage, the consequences of their rascality on our collective wellbeing. I think the media should support the President. This is not President Buhari’s fight, and you know he had reminded us that if we don’t kill corruption, it will kill us. Now corruption is fighting back.
“I read one article and I was shocked with the ease at which he attempted to turn logic upside down. He said that Chief Anthony Anenih has shown how he shared the money he got from the National Security Adviser that was paid to his bank account unlike other people, he didn’t deny it. Can you deny what they pay to your bank account? If he carried it the way they usually carried money in bullion van, he would have denied it but this time, the policeman in him failed him and the money was paid to his account so he was not at liberty to deny what was documented in a banking transaction.
“And then, he goes on to say he was not in a position to know that when Jonathan asked him to bring his Bank Account, he was not in a position to know the source of the money that was going to be used. Ok, maybe until he got the money, he wasn’t going to know, alright, as a former Policeman, who left Police Force under very questionable circumstances as an Assistant Commissioner, when the money hit his account, was the name of the payee not stated? When you get alert, don’t you know the source but a former Assistant Commissioner of Police didn’t know the money came from NSA office.
Oshiomhole said, “So when they say those things and that the country is being ungrateful to him, can you imagine how they insult our collective intelligence and the guy even went on to say Comrade has shut up since he saw how Anenih spent the money and all these are being reported as sources close to EFCC. Why should his own be based on sources close to EFCC? He should go to EFCC and make that statement on a prescribed form, the way it is done in a Police Station.
“And it is only when they are in trouble that they tell us they have medical condition. Until now, nobody knew that they had medical condition so even health is been used as an emotional instrument to curry public sympathy. Which is worst, those who are ill now because they are under investigation or those who have died as a result of the crime they committed?
“So, you see, he agreed in sharing XYZ but he has not published the detail of the remaining fund. He has not disclosed how he spend it. The one they were distributing in Benin, they have not explained because you were aware when dollars and naira were being distributed. So the Edo version is yet to be opened up and it will be opened. So Anenih must be prosecuted like any other suspect, he can’t run away from it.
Speaking Earlier, the Edo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, Sir Roland Osakwe said they were in government House to present the new Executive Council Members of the Edo State Chapter of the NUJ to the Governor.
He used the opportunity to thank the Governor for his developmental strides in the state, and for the cordial working relationship that has existed between the Union and the government in the past 7 years and sued for its sustenance.
The Nigeria Prisons Service has said that putting handcuffs on the National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh while appearing for his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday was at the discretion of the prison officer, who supervised his court appearance.
Olisa Metuh in Court
The NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore, said the officer in charge of the escort that took Metuh to court was at liberty to determine if the inmate should be handcuffed based on security situation, the environment and intelligence report made available to him.
Enobore made the clarification following comments in the media and by PDP, that putting handcuffs on Metuh is a plot by the All Progressives congress -led to subdue the major opposition party.
Enobore, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, stated that Metuh was not maltreated in any way, stressing that handcuffing an inmate was a standard procedure, which the prison warden could employ based on the situation at hand.
He said, “Handcuffing an inmate is at the discretion of the officer in-charge, depending on the security situation, the environment and intelligence report available to the officer. Sometimes they look at the atmosphere and take the necessary decision.
“If you suspect that the atmosphere, security-wise, may not be conducive to the inmates in your custody, you can use handcuffs; to avoid a situation where you have to start telling stories, you use your discretion to study the environment and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the inmates in your custody.
“Remember that we not only try to secure the inmate from escaping, we equally provide protection for the inmate. The officer in-charge must ensure that the life of the inmate is not jeopardised. It is the officer in-charge of the escort that studies the security environment and takes the decision to use handcuffs.”
Asked if there was intelligence that Metuh might escape or was in danger of being harmed, Enobore said he did not know because he was not at the scene.
He dismissed suggestions that the PDP spokesman was handcuffed to please the Presidency, saying there was no political consideration in the treatment of inmates by the prisons service.
Justice Abang had, on January 15, ordered the accused person to be remanded in Kuje Prison shortly after his arraignment on seven counts of money laundering preferred against him by the EFCC.
The EFCC alleged in the charges that Metuh, who was arraigned along with a firm, Destra Investments Ltd, received N400m, part of the money meant for the procurement of arms, from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.
The EFCC alleged in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016, that Metuh and Destra, through their account with Diamond Bank Plc, collected the sum of N400m from the NSA office on November 22, 2015, for PDP’s campaign activities.
The prosecution also alleged that the N400m was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
It alleged that Metuh and Destra transferred the sum of N21.8m to Anenih and they (Metuh and Destra) thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
The judge ordered on Tuesday that Metuh should not be released from custody until he met the bail conditions.
But in granting him bail on Tuesday, the judge dismissed EFCC’s objection to the application, ruling that the allegation that Metuh destroyed his statement and attempted to influence potential witnesses while in the custody of the anti-graft agency, was not substantiated.
Justice Abang added, “The truth of this allegation has not been established. The prosecution said that he, the first defendant, if granted bail, will try to influence potential witnesses.
“In my humble view, this is speculative. The court of law cannot act on speculation.
“The alleged conduct of the first defendant while in custody of the EFCC cannot be used as a factor or taken into consideration in refusing the bail to the first defendant.”
He said the offences that Metuh was accused of were bailable and that the accused still enjoyed constitutional right to being presumed innocent until proved guilty.
Metuh was arrested by the EFCC on January 5 and remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency till when he was arraigned on January 15.
The judge however dismissed the second prayer contained in Metuh’s bail application seeking an order restraining the EFCC from re-arresting him after being granted bail.
Metuh’s separate fundamental human rights enforcement suit is scheduled to come up for hearing before Justice Abang on Wednesday (today).
The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh has been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Metuh was arraign in handcuffs.
The judge also ruled that Metuh submit his international passport and must provide two sureties with N200m each.
The sureties must possess properties in Maitama district of Abuja..
Metuh is accused of receiving N400 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki.
Dasuki was accused of diverting $2.1bn met for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military to enhance the fight against terrorism in the North East.
It was earlier reported that Metuh claimed to have received the money for a job done for the former President, Goodluck Jonathan without disclosing what kind of assignment he carried out for his former boss.
EFCC had also informed the media that the PDP spokesman had turn his confessional statement when asked to sign before attempting to chew it.
The embattled Metuh has been in EFCC custody since January 4th
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, remanded in Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory, while his trial for alleged money laundering offences continues.
Olisah Metuh
Mr. Metuh pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge of fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The EFCC is accusing him of receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, believed to be part of a $2.1 billion meant for arms procurement but which was allegedly diverted by Mr. Dasuki.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, the counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, moved that the court decides a date for the continuation of the hearing, but requested that Mr. Metuh be remanded in prison while trial in the case continues.
But Mr. Metuh’s counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, asked the court to discountenance the request for his client’s further detention, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.
He said the EFCC had a legal obligation to provide them (the respondents) with a seven-day notice before the arraignment of Mr. Metuh in court.
Mr. Ikpeazu cited Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which states that: “When a person who is suspected or accused is arrested or detained, appears in court, he shall, subject to the provision of this act, be admitted to bail.”
He therefore prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
Responding, Mr. Tahir said the application for bail was oral and should therefore be refused.
He noted that the court was one of record keeping, stressing that an order be given for the application to reflect the status of the court.
Mr. Tahir asked the court to demand a written application so that the defendant’s grounds for the application would be put on record, as well as the prosecution’s ground for opposing the application.
He also added that Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act mentioned by Mr. Ikpeazu dealt mainly with written application, a claim vehemently objected to by Mr. Ikpeazu.
After hearing the arguments of both parties, Mr. Abang noted that the matter for determination by the court was whether or not the oral application for bail should be granted.
He ruled that it was not out of place for the court to grant oral application for bail, stressing that section 158 and 162 of the constitution argued by both parties did not state whether an application for bail must be written or oral.
He however added that the court was not in a position to decide the prosecution’s ground for opposing the application for bail on Friday.
Mr. Abang added that where the prosecution is objecting to bail, it should be allowed to place on record the grounds on which it is objecting.
He also noted that the defence counsel should also be allowed to place its facts before the court to back its application for bail, arguing that both parties cannot place such facts “before the bar”.
Mr. Abang therefore refused the oral application for bail and directed that Mr. Metuh be remanded in prison,
He also gave the defence counsel six hours from the time of ruling to file its application for bail before the court, while the persecution had 24 hours after receiving the same application to file its brief of argument against it.
Mr. Abang further said the defence counsel was expected to submit its response within five hours of receiving prosecution’s brief of argument.
The matter was adjourned till January 19 for consideration of Mr. Metuh’s bail application.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a seven-count charge against the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.
Olisah Metuh
The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016 was filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday morning.
Metuh is charged with breach of public trust, corrupt acquisition of public funds and money laundering.
A lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said Metuh may be arraigned on Friday.
Also, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has refused Metuh’s application to compel the EFCC to respond to his fundamental rights enforcement application on Thursday.
Justice Abang, in a ruling, said since the fundamental rights enforcement procedure rules allows a respondent five days to respond.
He rejected application by Metuh’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), to abridge the time within which the EFCC could file its response to his (Metuh’s) suit.
Detectives have hit a stalemate in their bid to recover the N400 million traced to a company in which Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Olisa Metuh has a stake.
Olisah Metuh
He is said to have told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he would rather go on hunger strike than refund the money, which is believed to be part of the $2.1 billion arms cash allegedly diverted at the Office National Security Adviser (ONSA).
EFCC chair Ibrahim Magu, who revealed Metuh’s position yesterday in Lagos, stressed that the war against corruption had just begun.
Speaking during a meeting with online reporters, Magu vowed to bring corrupt elements to justice, explaining that the looting of the nation’s treasury “is mind boggling”.
He said former Military Administrator of Kaduna State Brig.-Gen.Jafaru Isa had refunded N100 million of the N160million he collected from the ONSA.
The ex-governorship candidate of the Congress of Progressvies Change (CPC), who was arrested and released after being quizzed, he added, had undertaken to refund the balance.
He said former President Goodluck Jonathan would not be invited over the $2.1billion arsm deals because memos and documents on the disbursement of the money were not approved for political campaigns.
Magu explained that former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Patrick Akpobolokemi was re-arrested by EFCC operatives outside the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, after it was found that he was involved in an alleged embezzlement of N34.5 billion and N600 million in the maritime agency.
He was said to have jumped bail and the lawyer who stood surety for him was arrested.
Speaking on why EFCC cases get stuck, Magu blamed lawyers, saying: “When a politician steals N10 billion, he keeps N5 billion for litigation. He hires Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). Judges accuse us of not conducting thorough investigation in order to compromise.”
Also yesterday, a former minister, Chief Jim Nwobodo, explained how he disbursed the N100 million he received from former PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, whose wherabouts the EFCC does not know. He denied ever collecting money from Col. Sambo Dasuki who he said he had never met.
Nwobodo, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent, said: “I have never met Dasuki in my life. I don’t know Dasuki. Ex-Minister Bashir Yuguda I know, just as a former minister like any Nigerian.
“I got N100million for campaign purposes and not N500million. I did not receive the money from either Dasuki or Yuguda. The money I received was from a former National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Muazu. I gave the list of the disbursement according to states to the party.
A statement by John Okoreni on behalf of Nwobodo said: “The attention of Senator (Dr.) Jim Nwobodo has been drawn to news items where it was mentioned that he received the sum of one hundred million naira (N100,000,000) from Bashir Yuguda, ex-Minister of State for Finance for the purpose of the last presidential election.
“ Senator (Dr.) Jim Nwobodo states as follows: That he was the chairman of the Contact Committee of the PDP Presidential campaign for the South East Zone
“The Committee was appointed by the party and inaugurated by its then National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu
“That the Committee oversaw the five states of the Zone, namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State
“Members of the Committee were three for each state; Senator Jim Nwobodo, Chairman (Enugu), Chief Onyema Ogochukwu, Secretary (Abia), Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe (Abia), Senator Adolphus Wabara (Abia), Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu (Anambra), Senator Ben Ndi Obi (Anambra), Senator Joy Emodi (Anambra), Ambassador Frank Ogbuweu (Ebonyi), Senator Ben Collins Ndu (Enugu), Ambassador Fidel Ayogu (Enugu), Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu (Imo), Chief Achike Udenwa (Imo) and Chief Innocent Nwoga (Imo).
“That the only fund received by the committee for its work in the five South-Eastern states was N100million and the money was received from the then National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Adamu Muazu, for logistics, travelling, mobilisation of party members in the zone for the presidential election.
“That the fund was properly disbursed to the states and duly signed by members of the Committee for each State and accounted for to the party.
“That at no time did Senator Jim Nwobodo receive the money from any person other than the then National Chairman of the party.
“That it would be unusual for Senator Nwobodo and other members of his committee to query the source of the campaign fund coming from the National Chairman of his party for official functions and purposes.
“This statement is meant to put the records straight and correct the impression making round in the media on the alleged distribution of money by Bashir Yuguda as it concerns Senator Nwobodo.”
Indications emerged on Friday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission might not release the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, and others in detention.
Olisah Metuh
It was gathered that the anti-graft agency might not release the detainees until after charges had been prepared.
It was further learnt that operatives were still grilling the suspects as of the time of filing this report by 7.30 pm on Friday.
A top operative, who confided in our correspondent, wondered why the people were talking of granting bail to the suspects when the commission was still at the stage of interrogation with them.
The operative said, “Those people you are talking about are still being detained, they are facing interrogation.
“Nobody can tell you when they are going to be released, may be, that could come up after their charges have been prepared.
“This gives a strong indication that the Spokesman of the PDP, Olisah Metuh, will spend the weekend at the EFCC detention facility.”
Apart from Metuh, the commission is still detaining the former military assistant to the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. The assistant, who is a serving colonel, is believed to have spent two weeks in detention.
Also, a German believed to have been engaged to facilitate the training of 750 Special Forces in Belarus who was picked up on December 28, 2015, is still waiting to face charges being prepared against him in court.
On Wednesday night, the EFCC arrested a former military administrator of Kaduna State, Jafaru Isah, also in relation to the ongoing investigation into the $2.1 arms procurement probe.
Isah is a close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari. He was the governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change in Kano State, which Buhari founded in 2011 to actualise his presidential ambition
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to charge the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, to court if the commission has evidence of fraud against him.
Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC
The governor, who restated his support for the anti-corruption war, bemoaned a situation where the commission would first arrest and detain a person before shopping for evidence against him.
“The EFCC appears to be operating a system in which an accused person is first arrested, detained endlessly while the anti-corruption agency goes about looking for evidence.”
Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, challenged the EFCC to also act on petitions submitted to it against All Progressives Congress chieftains and the President’s election sponsors.
He cautioned that nothing untoward must happen to Metuh, adding that the APC’s desperation to decimate and silence the opposition had dragged the Buhari-led government in the mud of lawlessness.
“In saner climes, you don’t arrest people for alleged fraud and start to look for evidence to prosecute them. Rather, before you arrest anyone for fraud, anti-corruption agencies must have established a prima facie case and arresting the suspect will only be for his or her arraignment in court.
“However, what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a situation whereby the EFCC will arrest PDP leaders, humiliate them by subjecting them to media trial, detain them for weeks in the process of trying to force them to make statements during which the commission will be looking for evidence.
“For instance, in the case of Metuh, we are told that the EFCC is insisting that he must write statements and one begins to wonder if it has now become mandatory for an accused to write statements in law enforcement agent’s custody. Shouldn’t the EFCC have simply charged Metuh to court based on its own evidence? Or is Metuh’s statement the evidence the EFCC requires to prosecute him?
“The international community, especially the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and others are put on notice on this condemnable act of arresting and detaining opposition leaders by agents of the Buhari-led government before fishing for evidence.”
While challenging the President to extend his anti-corruption crusade to those who sponsored his election, Fayose added that “any anti-corruption effort that targets only members of the opposition and those with axe to grind with the government of the day can never succeed.
“If President Buhari does not wait for any petition to move against PDP chieftains, asking people to come forward with allegations of corruption against APC chieftains, especially those who sponsored President Buhari’s election is clearly hypocritical.”
There have been word on how soon the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, would be released.
Olisah Metuh
Checks by Vanguard, last night, revealed that the EFCC, which arrested Metuh on Tuesday, was not in a hurry to free him. A source in the commission confirmed that Metuh was still being questioned by its operatives.
Release or charge our son to court, Metuh’s family tells FG
Four days after the arrest of Chief Olisa Metuh by officials of the EFCC, his family has cried out that he should be released or charged to court.
In a statement signed, yesterday, by Chief Gilbert Metuh for the Obi-Ezeani-Nnewi, the family said that the charges for which the PDP spokesman was arrested have not been made known to him, the family and the public. The family also raised alarm that it was worried about the health and safety of Metuh.
The family’s statement read in part: “Metuh family – the Obi-Ezeani-Nnewi- has noted with grave concern the continued incarceration of their Diokpa and spokesperson of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) since his arrest Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Whereas the charges for which Chief Metuh is being detained for over 48 hours now have not been formally made known to the family and the general public; we have noted some sensational publications in a section of the media claiming that our son collected the sum of N1.4 billion from the arms deal cash and has been collecting N4 million monthly from the Office of the former National Security Adviser.
“We have confronted our son with this allegation and he assured us that they are completely false.
“However, he acknowledged that in the course of his duties as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the then leader of the party and President of the country directed him to carry out some urgent national assignment relating to his office, which the former President duly funded and which he duly carried out to the satisfaction of the former President.
“The family, therefore, views the publications bandying the figure of N1.4 billion and alleged collection of N4 million stipend from the Office of the NSA as deliberate blackmail aimed at inflaming public sentiments against our son.
“Our biggest concern for now is the health and safety of our son, who even before his arrest has alerted the nation about various threats to his life, a stance that is not unconnected to his position as the spokesperson of the opposition. Our position is more so as he has refused to eat following fears of intentions to poison him in detention.
“In view of the above therefore, we DEMAND that the EFCC immediately release our son, Chief Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) from detention or charge him to court.”
Also on Tuesday, the National leadership of PDP had warned that Metuh must not be killed by the government, using the arrest by EFCC as a vehicle, just as the party has demanded for an immediate release of Metuh.
In a statement by PDP National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo, the party noted that the arrest of Metuh by officials of the EFCC did not come as a surprise, just as it warned that his arrest would be the last straw that may break Nigeria’s democracy.
Oladipo’s statement read: “This development, which did not come to us as a surprise given series of threats to our party’s spokesman by the APC and the Federal Government, who are obviously not comfortable with our stance on the confused state of the nation under their watch, is a continuation of APC’s grand design to silence and decimate the PDP.
“The arrest of Chief Metuh today underscores the growing political intolerance in our country and the foisting of a police state which was last Wednesday underscored by the President and Commander-in-Chief himself, who defended why a government in a democracy should flout constitutional provision and brazenly disobey court orders.
“This onslaught against our spokesman, according to intelligence report available to us is part of a larger script by the government to ensure that PDP’s wings are finally clipped in their mission to install a dictatorial one-party state in the country.
“The excesses of security agencies under this government, especially the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC, in abridging the human rights of PDP members have become worrisome and a threat to our democratic evolution.
“Nigerians and the international community will recall that on a number of occasions, the PDP, through its spokesman has been outspoken on some undemocratic proclivities being exhibited by the APC-led Federal Government in the last seven months.
“The PDP insists that for whatever reason Chief Metuh was arrested, his rights as a citizen under the law must not be trampled upon. We therefore demand his immediate release and that due process of investigation and prosecution concerning him should be strictly adhered to.”
“We state this because we have been made aware of top directives to break Chief Metuh and if possible poison him during his detention by the EFCC. Chief Metuh, has since his arrest at about 10 am, has been kept incommunicado, with his lawyers denied access to him.
“The PDP declares the arrest of our spokesman as the last straw that may break our democracy. We therefore forewarn the Federal Government and its agencies to save our democracy and forthwith release our National Publicity Secretary.
“We are also calling on the international community and well-meaning Nigerians to stand up for this democracy, which our party nurtured for 16 years and deepened to a level where the opposition, for the first time in our political history, had the opportunity to win in a general election.”
The All Progressives Congress, APC has responded to the statement credited to its main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over Presidential Media Chat.
APC National Chairman, Odigie Oyegun
In a Statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said the Presidential chat showed Buhari’s “undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerians citizens”.
The PDP described Buhari’s action against court orders as a system not far from the practice obtainable by Mussolini of Italy, HItler of Germany, Idi Amin of Uganda and General Than Shwe of Burma.
Metuh said: “Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.
“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.
In a swift response, the APC described Metuh’s statement as an unwarranted insult on the President, adding that such may not be tolerated anymore.
This was contained in a statement signed by the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun through the party’s Assistant Director, Media and Publicity, Edegbe Odemwingie.
The statement rea: “In the aftermath of Wednesday’s widely-acclaimed presidential chat, PDP’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh, in a statement issued on Thursday amongst others called President Buhari an “unrepentant tyrant” and “fascist.” In other baseless allegations, the PDP accused ministers and APC members of corruption while further accusing the president of a selective anti-corruption fight.
“The APC is worried by PDP’s inciting statements. Respect for the office of the President or heads of government in any clime is not a matter of choice but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws. Being an opposition party or critic is no licence to issue abusive, intemperate and slanderous statements on government officials; most especially the President of the country.
“The PDP has proven that it is not a party to be trusted or taken seriously. Only recently, the PDP said in a December 24, 2015 statement: ‘we urge that Nigerians should not recourse to hauling insults on the President’.
“For the umpteenth time, the APC urges Nigerians, who see merit in the war that the President Buhari-led administration is waging against corruption, not to be distracted by the PDP and their agents of corruption to discredit the war. For the records, the ongoing war against corruption is not selective. Anybody guilty of corrupt practices will face the law.
“If the PDP has any proof of corruption against any APC member or minister as alleged, we advise that they approach any of the anti-graft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases.
“PDP’s rant suggesting a selective anti-corruption fight by the present administration should be seen as a plot meant to distract the citizenry from the successful ongoing war against graft.
“The PDP does not have the luxury of dictating how the present administration carries out its legitimate duty of catching looters, as long as it conforms with the rule of law.”
Media Chat Exposed Buhari’s Undemocratic Character”- PDP
Says President Should Apologize for Labeling Nigerians ‘Difficult Lot’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at the Wednesday Presidential Media Chat were not only embarrassing but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.
Olisah Metuh
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Thursday also said the President confirmed his partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.
“Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.
“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.
“This extremely shocking dictatorial tendency being brazenly exhibited by the President in total disdain for our laws and judicial institutions portends great danger for our democracy and constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the people, and should be resisted by the citizens before it festers.
“The scorn for the principle of separation of powers, especially the independence of the legislature, is further manifested in the declared craving to regulate the funding and running of the National Assembly, a matter constitutionally vested outside the jurisdiction of the executive. We are most uncomfortable about his attempt at trying to whip up public sentiments against an independent arm of government, especially the one vested with the constitutional power of appropriation.
“Following from the foregoing, therefore, it may be necessary to suspend the application of our Constitution and allow the President to operate as maximum ruler for four years after which the nation can return to a democracy.
“On the issue of the Chibok girls, President Buhari’s embarrassing declaration of seeking information on the whereabouts and state of the girls betrays an obvious insincerity which is in total conflict with his campaign promises in that regard. Thus by this declaration, our dear President has accepted failure on this issue and should therefore apologise to Nigerians for all the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on the past administration by himself and the leadership of his political party.
“On the issue of devaluation of the naira, there is an obvious conflict between the budget speech wherein the president stated that the government is assessing the foreign exchange rate with a view to attracting foreign investments and his categorical pronouncement during the media chat that the naira would not be devalued. We invite Nigerians to note that the president obviously does not understand the currency that applies in the devaluation of the naira (laugh out loud).
“Furthermore, Nigerians were shocked by the President’s labeling Nigerians as ‘very difficult lot’ while responding to questions on the strategy to be adopted in implementing his promised N5,000 social welfare package.
“This unhealthy portrayal of the citizens by the very father of the nation, who has remained unrelenting in de-marketing his country through unguarded statements, is indeed a great disservice to Nigeria and its international image. Consequently, we reject this negative labeling of our citizens and reiterate our confidence in them, especially the millions who remain honest, hardworking and credible.
“Finally, Nigerians must take copious note of the fact that the President gave no inspiring answers to questions pertaining to his campaign promises, the fight against insurgency and rescue of the Chibok girls, the poor state of the naira, sudden plunging of the economy under his watch, and the gradual loss of democratic rights and freedom.”
N6.08 Trillion Budget: ‘Nigeria Going The Way of Greece’ – PDP warns
…Tasks Buhari On Repayment Plans
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown more light into why the N6.08 trillion 2016 federal budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari is a huge fraud, warning that with the proposed N1.84 trillion borrowing, the nation is going the way of Greece.
Olisah Metuh
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, explained that a breakdown of the N1.84 trillion shows that Nigeria would be borrowing N5 billion a day for the next 365 days, starting from January I, 2016, without corresponding provision for economic production and a clear repayment plan, a scenario that spells doom for the future of the nation.
According to Metuh, “Some people may be wondering why we raised an alarm about the budget. The reason is simple. When we analyzed the budget, we discovered it is a misshapen attempt at a Keynesian economics of applying deficit spending to stimulate growth even when studies have proven that GDP growth rates decrease by over 50% when debt goes from low or moderate to high. But then we know the borrowing here is to pay huge campaign debt and fund a political war chest.
“By every standard, this budget is a booby trap against the nation. When you break down the proposed N1.84 trillion borrowing, you discover that it amounts to borrowing N5 billion everyday for the 365 days in 2016. The questions are: for what specific projects are they borrowing N5 billion per day and how do they intend to pay back?
“The President should explain to Nigerians how they intend to pay back the loan. Is it by continuous borrowing to service the interests, and does he intend to accumulate colossal debt for future generations of Nigerians?
“The truth is that this administration cannot justify this proposal. There is no known economy in the world where you can justify borrowing N1.84 trillion without specific projects and precise repayment outline. This is worse still in an oil-driven, mono-economy at a time crude oil is selling at $30 dollars per barrel and is speculated to go down to about $20 dollars or even lower in the next one year. The idea can only come when you diversify the economy and boost production capacity in manufacturing and other critical sectors, a direction, which the budget clearly failed to provide.
“From all indicators, the borrowing will be negative. They are driving us to be like Greece, and to plunge us into unnecessary debt. When the PDP took office in 1999, we achieved the cancellation of inherited debts. This administration, in seeking to accumulate debts, should know that there is no possibility that any country in the world will give us debt cancellation anymore.”
Metuh added, “More importantly, we are really worried about negative economic policies of the present administration and the copying of strategies that failed in other economies. Recall that we had earlier alerted on the negative consequences of the retrogressive foreign exchange controls wherein this government is making it impossible for honest Nigerians to engage in free trade and regulate their personal activities.
“There seems to be the erroneous belief that the controls will create foreign exchange stability or strengthen the Naira by limiting foreign currency outflows. This policy had badly affected other countries in the recent past; including Argentina, whose new government had to reverse the policy to save their economy. Why then are we copying a policy that failed in other countries?
“In practice, the kind of crude controls the Federal Government is implementing have been proven ineffective in preventing capital flight. By limiting the local availability of foreign exchange, the controls have instead increased the demand for foreign exchange, putting greater pressure on the naira and achieving the exact opposite of what the government in its naivety believed would happen.
“The negative impacts of the ill-conceived controls include the hindering of international trade and discouraging of foreign investment. We have seen first-hand the crippling of the private sector in the last six months, upon the implementation of these measures were out. Traders, importers and all manner of businesses are being destroyed as a result of the contrived unavailability of foreign exchange.”
The PDP spokesman challenged the Federal Government to a public and open debate on the budget devoid of the sentiments of the APC-controlled National Assembly and who are minded against any cuts in their own allocation.
admits to have collected money from Jonathan to handle a job
ABUJA- NATIONAL Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, admitted Tuesday that he collected some money from former President Goodluck Jonathan to handle a job, just as he did not mention the nature of job that was given to him and how much was involved.
Olisah Metuh
Addressing Journalists yesterday, Metuh cried out that the All Progressives Congress, APC led Federal Government has concluded plans to “silence” him.
In a text titled, ” Government Out to Silence Me” said, “Gentlemen of the press, this press briefing is expedient, taken into consideration the times we find ourselves, especially as they relate to me.
“In the last seven months, as opposition spokesperson, I have been hounded, harassed, intimidated and threatened severally. In order to avoid personal and family pressure, I had refrained from bringing them to the public domain.
“However, on account of recent information available to me, I now have cause to believe that the Federal Government is desperate and may have finalized plans to silence me.
“Nevertheless, I make bold to state the following: As someone who has been a private person, having not taken any public office, the choice of where, how and when to invest and conduct my personal business remains my prerogative. In this regard, I note that I never had any contract dealings with the immediate past Federal Government or any of its security apparatus.
“In the course of my duties as the National Publicity Secretary of our party, the then leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria invited me and directed that I carry out some assignment relating to my office and which he duly funded. It is important to note that the former President was fully satisfied with the way and manner I handled the assignment.
“Finally, I reiterate that the present government should not use the apparatus of state power to settle personal scores.”
….Why We Remain In Support OF Fight Against Corruption – PDP
The Leadership of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hereby reiterates its support for an honest, holistic and total war against corruption, and demand the trial and prosecution of all those involved, including those who may have returned ‘loots’ to the government.
Olisah Metuh
However, PDP frowned at what it described at one-sided public trial and mob conviction of accused persons without following the age-long and worldwide legal process wherein all accused persons are presumed innocent until the contrary is lawfully proved.
This was contained in a statement signed on Sunday by the National Publicly Secretary , Chief Olisa Metuh.
Metuh added “We do not believe that mere investigation confers a guilt verdict on those concerned and the government should stop the brutal mob and public conviction of individuals and the transfer of the burden of proof of people being investigated.
“We restate for emphasis that a media and public war against corruption is good, but it should not be limited to only those opposed to the President and the ruling party. In fact, until top officials of the former government open up on the exact source of the funding, it remains premature to be accusing our party members of corrupt practices”
Metuh also advised that security votes from 1984 and the contracts awarded from 1993-1999 should be investigated.
His words: “Nevertheless, if indeed the government’s investigation includes the expenditure of President Jonathan security votes from 2011, then it should be extended to a public inquisition on the following:
1.The security votes of all past Presidents and Heads of state from 1984.
2.The award of contracts by the petroleum task force from 1993 to 1999.
3.The expenditure of our military purchases and expenditure during the Bakassi wars, the fight against militancy in the Niger Delta, military interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda among others.
4.The source of funding of the PDP and APC’s 2015 Presidential campaigns; the contributions from APC controlled state governors for their Presidential campaign and the beneficiaries thereof.
5. The allegation that people were made ministers just to cover up the slush fund that they provided to finance the APC presidential campaign.
“In the light of the way and manner of this government’s selective prosecution of the war against corruption, the PDP challenges the government to set up a National Truth Commission wherein politicians and other Nigerians publicly discuss the true meaning of corrupt practice in our land. This commission would also provide a platform for a proper public inquisition into the mind-boggling wealth of some Nigerians in public office.
“Nigerians are quite eager to learn the business and investment tricks of past and present public officers in the APC fold, especially former governors, former ministers as well as their national leader, who suddenly acquired multi-billions investments and are now reputed to be the richest politicians in the country.
“Nevertheless, if indeed President Muhammadu Buhari in anyway whatsoever desires to probe his opponent in the Presidential election, he should come out straight instead of going round in circles.
“If indeed the government is interested in ending sleazes associated with campaign funds, the National Truth Commission will present an avenue for Nigerians to openly debate the issues therein with facts and figures.
“If truly this government has provided hundreds of millions of naira to columnists, media analysts and commentators as well as social media writers and bloggers to castigate, denigrate and embarrass the PDP and its leaders, then the PDP, being a party that is out of power and especially against the present hostility of the security agencies, will publicly approach the Truth Commission with revelations backed with evidence, facts and figures.
“Finally, we state categorically that the PDP will no longer allow major beneficiaries of its 16 years in power, especially those with a lot of proven baggage to attempt to adorn a sanctimonious apparel by castigating and denigrating a party on which platform they had the opportunity to serve.”
