Charge our son to court or release him, Metuh’s family warns EFCC

The family, in a statement by Chief Gilbert Metuh, for and on behalf of The Obi-Ezeani- Nnewi, pointed out that their biggest concern, for now, was the health and safety of their son (Olisa), who even before his arrest had alerted the nation about various threats to his life

The family of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, who is currently being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm over the health and safety of their son.

It has, consequently, called on the EFCC to either charge Metuh to court or release him without any further delay.

Metuh was arrested on Tuesday morning in his Abuja residence and whisked away to the Commission’s head office in Abuja.

The family, in a statement by Chief Gilbert Metuh, for and on behalf of The Obi-Ezeani- Nnewi, pointed out that their biggest concern, for now, was the health and safety of their son (Olisa), who even before his arrest had alerted the nation about various threats to his life.

The family stated that their position was based mainly on the refusal of their son to eat in the EFCC detention following fears of intentions to poison him.

According to the statement, “The Metuh family – the Obi-Ezeani-Nnewi – has noted with grave concern the continued incarceration of our Diokpa and spokesperson of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olisa Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi), since his arrest on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“Whereas, the charges for which Chief Metuh is being detained for over 48 hours now (as at Thursday) 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 stipend from the Office of the former National Security Adviser.

“We have confronted our son with these allegations and he assured us that they were 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 assignments 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 release our son, Chief Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) immediately from detention or charge him to court”.