Dasukigate: Metuh drags FG to court over indefinite detention

After 7 days in detention, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, Monday, approached a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in a bid to enforce his fundamental rights by seeking his immediate release from detention.

Metuh, who has been the major voice of the opposition PDP, was arrested on January 5, 2016 in connection with ongoing investigation of the alleged $2.1bn arms funds believed to have been diverted by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC

In the suit filed by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on behalf of Metuh, he said his arrest was part of the grand plan of the ruling All Progressives Congress to silence the opposition and make Nigeria a one-party country.

In an affidavit of urgency, personally deposed to by Adegboruwa in support of the suit, he averred that since his swearing-in May last year, President Muhammadu Buhari had launched “a massive attack upon the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, in the guise of fighting a nebulous anti-corruption war.”

Metuh prayed the court to declare his detention by the EFCC without access to his family and lawyer, and without being charged to court, as a violation of his fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 of the Constitution.

Adegboruwa also argued that Metuh’s detention also breached the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, expressing the fear that the PDP spokesman was being kept under untidy or unhygienic conditions, which might take a toll on its health, as the EFCC was not adequately funded.

“I verily believe that the applicant has not committed any offence other than his principled opposition to the ruling government and his arrest and detention are meant to silence the opposition and create a one-party state by the respondents to allow the APC to dominate Nigeria.

“Nobody knows the present whereabouts of the applicant, as to his exact place of detention, his condition in the custody and how he is faring. Recently, detainees in the custody of the 1st respondent have been dying due to lack of proper care and adequate medical facilities, as the 1st respondent is not normally well-funded to function effectively, except to be used by the ruling government to hound the opposition,” Adegboruwa added.

He prayed the court to order the EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), sued as the 2nd defendant, to immediately release Metuh.

The court is yet to assign the case to any judge neither has a date been fixed for hearing.

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