The possibility of the release from detention, of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not be immediately on sight as an Abuja Chief Magistrate has granted his continued detention.
The purpose of his continued detention, according to ex parte motion pursuant to Section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 brought by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was based on the fact that some of the people suspected to be his accomplice in the alleged N1.4 billion scam have disappeared.
Metuh was picked up by the the EFCC operatives on Tuesday, for interrogation in respect of about N1.4 billion “suspicious” funds in an account of a company in which he has interest.
TheEFCC counsel told the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2 while presenting the reason why Metuh should be confined into detention, that it decided to seek for such order because some of his accomplices are at large.
The EFCC counsel, Mr. C.O. Ugwu said: “Your Worship, we have a remand proceeding brought by way of ex parte motion pursuant to Section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
“The application is supported by Form 8, which is the stipulated form for an application of this nature. It is of 16-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Junaid Saidu, a detective officer with EFCC.
“We place reliance on the entirety of the deposition in the said affidavit, especially paragraphs 4-15. In a nutshell, we have brought this application because the investigation involved in this case is a bit complex and there are also persons reasonably suspected to be involved in the fraud who are yet at large.
“We need the suspect in the custody so as to aid us in our investigation. So, we have come with this application to respectfully apply for an order of this Honourable Court authorising us to keep him in custody.
“By the provision of Section 296(1) of the ACJ Act, Your Worship is enjoined to grant an application of this nature for a period of 14 days.”
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Okeagu Azubuike said: “This court has read carefully the affidavit in the Form 8 to support this application as well as the legal authorities submitted thereto.
“This court has therefore found merit in this application and hereby allows the applicant to detain the respondent(Olisa Metuh) in their custody from the 6th of January to 13th of January, 2016, pending the investigation.
“The Respondent(Olisa Metuh) should be given access to his lawyer, relatives and medical doctors and should be arraigned before a court of law on or before 13th of January.” [myad]
