The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given reasons for its continued detention of Chief Olisa Metuh, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary.
EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, gave the reasons in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
The statement said that Metuh’s continued detention was due to his refusal to refund or sign an undertaking to refund the N1.2 billion linked to him in the arms scandal.
It said that the publicity secretary would be released as soon as he satisfied the bail conditions, making reference to the case of APC chieftain, Brig-General Jafaru Isa (rtd).
Uwujaren’s statement also faulted the claim by the PDP that Metuh’s detention was illegal as indicated in a statement by the National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Victor Kwon.
“The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a statement by the National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Victor Kwon.
“The statement has alleged compromise and witch-hunt in the release of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Brig.-Gen. Jafaru Isa, (rtd) by the EFCC.
“While the EFCC will not wish to join issues with Kwon, it is important that the public is presented with the facts regarding the release of Isa.”
The statement said the APC chieftain was arrested for his involvement in the arms procurement scam to the tune of N170 million.
According to the statement, upon his arrest, Isa admitted receiving the money from Dasuki and immediately refunded N100 million with an undertaking to refund the balance in two weeks.
“The reasons above and the fact that his health deteriorated after being admitted to custody prompted the commission to offer the suspect bail.
“The bail granted the suspect by the commission does not amount to his exoneration in the case,” the statement added.
It said that the commission would not be intimidated by the campaign of calumny intended to distract it.
But PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives have given the EFCC 48 hours to release Metuh.
Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Leo Ogor (Delta), gave the ultimatum on behalf of his colleagues, in Abuja on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen.
Ogor accused the anti-graft agency of bias and preferential in its operations.
According to him, the country’s law provides that an individual can be held for a stipulated time and if not charged to court, should be freed.
He said that the grudge of the PDP legislators in the House was that Metuh had been held for about one week without being charged to any court of competent jurisdiction.
The lawmaker, however, said that if Metuh was found guilty in a court of law, he should be made to face the consequences of his actions.
“The EFCC cannot be the persecutor and the Judge. We want to lay emphasis on due process; we are not in support of corrupt attitude or actions.
“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, Olisah Metuh should be given administrative bail or be arraigned before a competent court,’’ he said.
He stressed that the action of the EFCC “as it stands today, negates the principle of the laws that run the commission.
“It offends the fundamental rights of Olisa Metuh and it is more like pronouncing him guilty before he is put forward for trial.
“On this same issue that borders on the transfer of funds, Isa Jafaru of the APC was detained by the EFCC and in less than eight hours, was given administrative bail after the Chairman of the EFCC visited Aso Rock.
“We are not saying that somebody is guilty but it is not in our position, and not in the position of any other person but a competent jurisdiction to pronounce anybody guilty.
“EFCC lacks the power to say refund money, it is the court.
“If he was asked to use those money for specific assignment and he said he has used the money or it is not there, it is now for him to defend his actions in a competent court of law.‘’
The minority leader hinted that the House would look into the $2.1 billion scam, saying that the legislature never approved such sum of money.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had at the end of a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that it supported all efforts by the Federal Government in fight corruption in the country.
The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said the party was not apologetic in any way over the arrest and interrogations of some politicians and big wigs across the country.
Odigie-Oyegun denied the allegation that the anti-corruption crusade was targetted at the opposition party.
