Abuja – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives on Tuesday gave an ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release it’s spokesperson Olisah Metuh within the next 48hours.
The caucus said that according to the laws of the land, an individual can be held for a stipulated time and if not charged should be free to go.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, House Minority Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor accused the anti graft agency of being biased and preferential in its treatment saying that it cannot be “different strokes for different folks”
Ogor explained that their grudge is that he has been held for about 10 days and not been charged to any comptenet court of jurisdiction.
According to him, if Metuh is found guilty in a court of law he should be made to face the consequences of his actions adding that 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, the voice of the PDP who is Chief Olisa Metuh.
“As a House we condemn it totally and we insist that within the next 48hours Olisah Metuh should be given administrative bail or be taken before a competent law of jurisdiction where he can be tried and if pronounced guilty be made to face the consequence.
“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, 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, who was also arrested on the same subject matter, Isa Jafaru was detained by the EFCC and in less than 8 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 I repeat not in the position of any other person by a competent jurisdiction to pronounce anybody guilty.
“EFCC lacks to power to say refund money, it is the courts, if he was asked to used those money for specific assignment, if he has said he has used the money and it is not there, it is now for him to defend his action in a competent court of law, “he said.
The Minority House Leader further said that as House, they will look into the said $2.1bn because the legislature never approved such sum of money adding that if need be they will approach the international community to seek redress.
“We are not saying that somebody is guilty but it Is not in our position, and I repeat not in the position of any other person but only by a competent jurisdiction to pronounce anybody guilty, “he added.
