Currently in detention over his role into the saga, Chief Metuh is alleged to have received N400m through a company he has an interest in from the former national security adviser Col Sambo Dasuki. As part of the investigations, Chief Metuh wrote a statement for the EFCC but in a dramatic development yesterday, he tore it to shreds and tried to swallow the document.
Apparently distraught that his hunger strike stunt has not softened the resolve of the EFCC to keep him in custody pending arraignment in court, Chief Metuh ripped the statement in anger. Sources at the EFCC said that when Chief Metuh was presented with copies of his statement to endorse, rather than sign it, realising the weight of his confession, he seized the documents and proceeded to tear them up.
Chief Metuh was said to be contemplating stuffing the papers into his mouth in a bid to swallow them when he was stopped by operatives who managed to recover the torn pieces of paper from him. One source said Chief Metuh’s action constitutes destroying evidence and is an offence which could attract a separate charge in court.
“The tearing of statement is tantamount to wilful destruction of government property and it is a serious offence. Also the fact that he obstructed operatives from performing their job is also a criminal offence, so we will explore the possibility of filing a separate charge against him at the Federal Capital Territory High Court,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives has given the EFCC a 48-hour ultimatum to charge Chief Metuh to court or release him from detention. They condemned the continued detention of Chief Metuh, adding that much as they would not endorse corruption, there was, however, the need to ensure due process by the EFCC.
House minority leader, Hon Leo Ogor, accused the anti-graft agency of bias and preferential treatment in the ongoing fight against corruption, saying that it cannot be different strokes for different folks. He explained that their grouse with the EFCC style was that Chief Metuh has been held for about 10 days and is not being charged to any competent court of law as stipulated by the constitution.
Hon Ogor added: “We want to lay emphasis on due process as we are not in support of corrupt attitude or actions. However, I will lay emphasis on due process and the rule of law and the issue here again is the arrest of the voice of the PDP, who is Chief Olisa Metuh.
“As a House, we condemn it totally and we insist that, within the next 48 hours, Olisa Metuh should be given administrative bail or be taken before a competent court of jurisdiction where he can be tried and if pronounced guilty, be made to face the consequences. The actions of the EFCC as it stands today negate the principle of the laws that run the commission and it offends the fundamental rights of Olisa Metuh as it is more like pronouncing him guilty before he is put forward for trial."
He added that Isa Jafaru of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who was also arrested on the same subject matter, was detained and in less than eight hours, was given administrative bail after the chairman of the EFCC visited Aso Rock. Hon Ogor asserted that the EFCC lacks the power to force suspects to refund stolen money, saying that such power lies with the law courts.
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