The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.
Recall that Metuh had been under investigation for his role in the $2.1 billion arms contracts. N400m was allegedly traced to a company account linked to him.
The company, Destra Investment Limited had N6. 67 million as at November 24, 2014, but by last December, had a balance of N1.4billion.
Metuh who has been under the radar of the anti-graft agency as part of the ongoing probe into the diversion of $2.1 billion budgeted for the purchase of arms through the office of former National Security Adviser, NSA was arrested on Tuesday at his residence located Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja.
He was subsequently whisked away to the Wuse 2, Abuja office of the Commission. Richard Ihediwa, media aide of the PDP spokesperson confirmed the arrest of his boss. According to him, the EFCC operatives came in a bus to arrest the PDP spokesperson.
Metuh had on Monday raised alarm over media reports that he and a company he had interest in were being investigated for allegedly collecting about N400m from the office of the NSA when Col. Sabo Dasuki (retd.) was in charge.
The PDP chieftain had alleged that he was being tried in the media even when he has not been formerly invited by the anti graft agency. Metuh had weeks ago agreed that he collected funds from former President Goodluck Jonathan to carry out an assignment which he did not specify as the spokesperson for of PDP.
He however did not specify the assignment the fund was meant for, though he emphasized that he carried out the assignment.
Meanwhile the opposition party kicked against the arrest of its spokesman. Metuh’s Special Assistant, Richard Ihediwa, said the EFCC arrived the Abuja home of Metuh this morning, inviting him to follow them to the commission’s headquarters.
“Upon enquiry on the reasons for the invitation, the officials stated that he has some issues to clear with the commission. They also said he was not being arrested but friendly invited. The operatives, four in number, came in a White unmarked Toyota Hiace bus.
“As at the time of issuing this statement, Chief Metuh is still being kept at the commission’s headquarters and his lawyers were making frantic efforts to reach him,” he said in a statement.
According to him, while details of why Chief Metuh was invited is yet to be made public by the commission, it could be recalled that severally, Chief Metuh, as the mouthpiece of the opposition party had alerted in various press conferences and statements that he has been under threat and that the ruling party and the government have been very uncomfortable with his stance.
“The latest being the outburst and threats by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun in reaction to Chief Metuh’s criticisms of President Buhari’s widely criticized response on government’s disobedience of court orders, during the last Wednesday’s Presidential Media chat.
“The Office of the National Publicity Secretary will keep the public updated on any development on the issue,” he said.
