The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to detain the spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.
The commission approached the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2 for an order to detain Metuh, who was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 5 at his Abuja home.
He was picked up over his involvement in the $2.1 billion arms purchase scandal in which former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki is facing trial for
Metuh allegedly received N400million meant for arms purchase from the Office of the National Security Adviser, which was paid into the bank account of Destra Investment Limited – a company the spokesman has interest.
According to The Nation, the EFCC sought an order to detain Metuh because some of his accomplices are on the run.
Moving the application at about 2.34pm, the EFCC counsel, Mr. C.O. Ugwu, said: “Your Lordship, 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.
“May I conclude my submission by referring this Honourable Court to the case of Lufadeju v. Jonhnson(2007) 8NWLR Pt 1037 at Page 535.
“This is a case where the Supreme Court held that it is constitutional to detain a suspect so as to aid investigation and to ensure that the right of the suspect is protected.
“This is because we have approached the court to justify his detention by operation of law. So, there is no way we can detain him unnecessarily since the court is in the picture.”
Relying on sections 293 and 296 of the ACJ Act, the EFCC counsel pleaded with the court to allow the anti-graft agency to detain Metuh.
Section 293 says: “A suspect arrested for an offence, which a magistrate’s court has no jurisdiction to try shall, within a reasonable time of arrest, be brought before a magistrate’s court for remand.
“An application for remand under this section shall be made ex parte and shall (a) be made in the prescribed “Report and Request for Remand Form” as contained in Form 8, in the First Schedule to this Act; and (b) be verified on oath and contain reasons for the remand request.
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