Olisa Metuh: everything seen through prism of politics

Nigeria’s  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the arrest of  Chief Raymond Dokpesi “and other opposition elements,’’ being held in connection with the multi-billion naira and dollars phoney arms contracts done between 2007 and 2015.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said in a statement in Abuja that it was government’s plan tailored to decimate the opposition and cow the media in Nigeria.

Using a familiar line, Metuh said: “While the PDP is not against the war against corruption, we insist that the crusade must be carried out within the limits of the law and not as guise to persecute and torture opposition elements.

The statement demanded an open and public trial of all those arrested so that all issues and charges against them as well as their defence therein would also be in the public domain.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday arrested and interrogated former Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Official sources at the EFCC confirmed the arrest and interrogation of the media mogul  in Abuja.

The sources added that the arrest was in connection with the on going Federal Government’s investigation of the $2.2 billion arms purchase scandal.

The sources added that Dokpesi was picked up in Abuja at about noon and was accompanied to the commission by his son, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr.

“Dokpesi was arrested in connection with money disbursed from the office of the former National Security Adviser, retired Col Sambo Dasuki.’’

Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance, was on Monday arrested by the EFCC over his role in the alleged scandal.

Some senior military officers have also been reportedly detained by the Defence Headquarters in connection with the deals.

The on going arrest followed an interim panel report submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari on probe of arms purchase during the last administration.

The report indicated that over N640 billion might have been siphoned with nothing on ground to show for it.

It was against this backdrop that the President ordered the arrest of those involved in the alleged scandal.