Embattled spokesman for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has been ordered to be remanded in prison. Metuh who appeared before a federal High Court in Abuja on Friday to enter a ‘not guilty plea’ to a seven-count charge of corruption and money laundering was ordered by the court to be detained in the Kuje prison, Abuja.
Metuh was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the charges connected to the diverted arms fund.
The PDP spokesman is being accused of accused of receiving 400 million Naira from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, without a contract, thus contravening the Money Laundering Act.
He is also accused of converting the said money to funds for political activities of the opposition PDP.
The charge document also alleged that Metuh transferred the sum of $1 million through his agent, Nneka Nicole Ararume, to one Sie Iyenome of Capital Field Investment, also in contravention of section one of the Money Laundering Act.
Metuh has been held by the EFCC since 5th January 2016. Perceiving that he is being held for too long without reason, PDP federal lawmakers had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to EFCC to either release the spokesman or charge him for the crime he was accused of.
The PDP caucus in the House of Representatives, led by the Minority Leader of the House, Representative Leo Ogor, said Metuh had not committed any treasonable offence and should not be detained indefinitely.
Threatening to give the issue an international dimension should he be kept in detention without bail, the caucus said “the continued incarceration of the party’s spokesperson violates the law and borders on witch hunt”.
Another issue raised by the PDP caucus was what the members in the House of Representatives termed preferential treatment given to a member of the ruling party, Mr Jafaru Isa, who was also arrested over the same diversion of funds but was released eight hours later.
