Obi Ezeani Nnewi, the extended family from which Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hails, has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to either arraign their son or release him.
The family led by Chief Gilbert Metuh, said on Thursday that the family was gravely concerned about the continued incarceration of their “Diokpa” and spokesperson of the opposition party in Nigeria.
According to the family, Metuh is the ‘Ugochidebelu Nnewi’ and since his arrest on Tuesday by operatives of the EFCC, he has not been allowed access to family members.
“Whereas the charges for which Chief Metuh is being detained for over 48 hours now have not been formally made known to the family and the general public, we have noted some sensational publications in a section of the media claiming that our son collected the sum of N1.4 billion from the arms deal cash and has been collecting N4 million monthly as from the Office of the former National Security Adviser.
“We have confronted our son with this allegations and he assured us that they are completely false.
“However, he acknowledged that in the course of his duties as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the then leader of the party and President of the country directed him to carry out some urgent national assignment relating to his office, which the former President duly funded and which he duly carried out to the satisfaction of the former President.
“The family therefore views the publications bandying the figure of N1.4 billion and alleged collection of N4 million stipend from the Office of the NSA as deliberate blackmail aimed at inflaming public sentiments against our son.
“Our biggest concern for now is the health and safety of our son, who even before his arrest has alerted the nation about various threats to his life, a stance that is not unconnected to his position as the spokesperson of the opposition.
“Our position is more so as he has refused to eat following fears of intentions to poison him in detention.
“In view of the above therefore, we demand that the EFCC immediately release our son, Chief Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi), from detention or charge him to court,” the family said.
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