The party said the continued detention of its spokesman by the EFCC without a charge clearly showed the dictatorial character of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.

In a statement signed by Victor Kwon, its national legal adviser, PDP stated 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,” the party said.

“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 clampdown 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.”

asadike:
Mallam Buhari, pls dis is not 1984 millitary era, we are in a democratic setting. If you find any incrimating evidence against Olisa Metuh, then charge him to court accordingly, if not, then release him immediately. stop witch hunting pdp leaders, we need a strong opposition to serve as watch dog.

greatiyk4u:


It is obvious u knw nothing about how Government is run,
Zuo ike obere nwayi oma"..................in Enugu where u stay, u knw how police, army, DSS et.al dey detain boys any how without reason, and unfortunately we have never seen u defending them,.......u have tirelessly supported criminals, even if ur dad. Was a beneficiary of PDP fraudulent government I expect u 2 take a chill, and support this government that is trying to make all men equal in the society.....

asadike:
zuo ike nwoke oma. nwoke ahu kpo lu ndigbo asi, mepe anya gi ofuma, iga ahu ife nhuru.

asadike:
Mallam Buhari, pls dis is not 1984 millitary era, we are in a democratic setting. If you find any incrimating evidence against Olisa Metuh, then charge him to court accordingly, if not, then release him immediately. stop witch hunting pdp leaders, we need a strong opposition to serve as watch dog.

agabaI23:
The rice agents will call it fighting corruption.
People with same minds will call it dictatorship. A government that is bereft of ideas on how to tackle the problems of the economyand lacks the organisational ability or moral standing to fight corruption within the law has no business with governance.

geesilver:
where do they expect him to be kept. In a mansion or 5 star hotel. He is even lucky its not military era otherwise those few days he spent in the dungeon would have been hell to him.
The earlier he cooperate the better his case would be.
It seems baba bubu no dey smile at all+.

Obiagelli:
Was the cell not built for detainees?
was it not built by a pdp government?
The court has empowered the efcc to hold detain him for 7days.
Abeg make we hear word.

APCsupporter:


Why should be released and whats unlawful in metuhs arrest? They got a permission from a court for Gods sake. Call it witch hunt or whatever we dont care. All we know is that Buhari is winning the war against corruption.

No amount of blackmail can stop the war against corruption. You can rant as much as you like ONLINE

g4everybody:


People like you are the reason most African countries remain backward. Even the blind knows that the so called war against corruption is one-sided. their main aim is to bring pdp down and silent d opposition. Thats nt healthy for our democracy

g4everybody:
Reading some comment on this forum, then i get to believe Donald thrump that most African country need to be recolonize for the next 100 years because of their backward way of thinking. 55 years after independence, Nigeria is stil battling wit an unstable democracy. A situation whereby government engage in incesant abuse of human right and total disregard of the rule of law he sworn to protect. Stil most sycopant dont c anytin wrong in it. Major reason most Aficans nations remain backward and underdeveloped

JaredNomak:
The same military eras that were riddled with outrageous embezzlement and inane misappropriation of public funds?
What moral justification do they have to prosecute a an alleged corrupt politician yet to be found guilty of any crime? Because they are tyrants? Is that what you presently wish Buhari becomes?

Chei! APC and their pack of zombies..

Obiagelli:
Was the cell not built for detainees?
was it not built by a pdp government?
The court has empowered the efcc to hold detain him for 7days.
Abeg make we hear word.

OrlandoOwoh:
No be human being dey stay for underground cell?