The embattled National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, was granted bail to the sum of N400m on the N400m alleged fraud charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday.
Mr. Metuh who was brought to the court in handcuff is to provide two sureties in the sum of N200m each who are required to have properties in the elite Maitama District of Abuja before he can have access to bail.
Mr. Metuh’s party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for handcuffing Metuh even when the court was yet to hear his case. It said the act was a ploy to humiliate, embarrass and portray PDP leaders as common criminals. The PDP statement reads:
“The question remains, if not to mortify, dehumanise and break Metuh, who has been very vocal against the APC administration, and of course, to send a signal to others critical of the government, what else would have informed the decision to produce him in court in handcuffs, even when his case does not border on security threat?
“Is this an attempt to sway the court and ambush the judicial process against our National Publicity Secretary, all because of his stance against observed ineptitude and dictatorial tendencies of this administration?
“The PDP invites all Nigerians and the international community to note the emerging barefaced abuse of state power and violation of constitutional provisions regarding the arrest, detention and eventual arraignment of our spokesperson.
Nigerians by now, should be extremely scared that our country is fast drifting into a police state where being in opposition or holding views divergent to that of the government makes one a criminal and an enemy of the state. “For now, the target of the on-going lopsided war against corruption is the PDP and its leaders while APC members, including those with known corruption issues are immune from investigation, arrest and prosecution.”
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja who admitted Metuh on bail ordered him to submit his travelling documents to the Chief Registrar of the court while his two sureties must deposit their two recent passport photographs with the apex court. Pending when Metuh will fulfill conditions for the bail, the Judge Abang ordered that he should remain in Kuje prison custody in Abuja.
Metuh’s sureties, according to the court, must swear to affidavit of means, provide two years tax clearance while the ownership of their properties must be confirmed at the Abuja Geographic Information Service (AGIS) by the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Abuja and a lawyer to the EFCC.
