Baring any unforeseen circumstances, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may proceed to arrest the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, over his alleged involvement in the $2.1billion arms deal.
A source at the EFCC disclosed to leadership that Metuh would be invited any moment from now or face arrest as part of the next phase of the arms deal investigation.
The source, who according to the report sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter said, “Olisa Metuh will be invited any moment from now to explain his involvement in the money meant to purchase arms which has been traced to him and a company where he has a very big share which was used to siphon money from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
According to the source, there are some documentary evidences which show how Metuh was receiving some money running to several millions of naira monthly from the ONSA and another through a company named Dietras
“Metuh will be invited to answer questions over the monthly money going to him from the ONSA and another ones that went to a company, Dietras, where he has interest. It was the money that went to the company that were shared among some PDP top leaders like a former party chairman, ” the source added.
When reminded how the commission would handle the controversy since Metuh is the spokesman of the opposition PDP, the source said, “We are not interested in his office but in the public money that found its way into his hands”.
Speaking further, the source said that the PDP spokesman has been making noise in the media with a view to pre-empt the action of the commission, saying, however, that, “It is high time Metuh is invited to know that we have documentary evidence against him.”
Further investigations by SIGNAL revealed that the planned arrest of Olisa Metuh has the tacit approval of the presidency and may not be unconnected with the lead role Mr. Metuh has played in the past seven months of Buhari’s administration as the voice and conscience of the Nigerian opposition.
Meanwhile, Metuh has faulted the EFCC for using the media to prosecute those who are under investigations and wondered how the media has been reporting stories of his investigations when the commission has not invited him.
He referred to a media report in one of the national newspapers on Monday where it was reported that he was under investigation by the EFCC. He added that he was yet to be invited or questioned by the EFCC
In the statement signed by his special assistant, Richard Ihediwa. Metuh accused the EFCC of using the media to prosecute its suspects, saying that the development could only happen under a tyrannical system.
He said, “If indeed, the report is from the EFCC, then they should note that only in a period of tyranny are people investigated on the pages of the newspapers as a prelude for abuse and violation of their freedom and rights under the law.
“It is instructive to observe that a mere media campaign of calumny does not in any way whatsoever translate to any evidence of guilt. It is rather an evidence of infringement on the rights of the citizenry and manifestation of the reign of tyranny.
“In a democratic and civilized country, where there are issues that require investigations by such agencies, invitations are duly extended. However, to read daily of people being investigated in select newspapers betrays plots to portray them as guilty of fraud and crime, and targeted to convey the PDP as a corrupt party and the APC as party of Nigerians without sin.
But efforts made to get the official position of the EFCC did not yield result as its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren could not be reached on his phone at press time.
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