Why there should be little sympathy for Olisa Metuh

Olisa Metuh, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary has been held in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 5 January for allegedly taking 400m naira ($2m) from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, money that was allegedly for the procurement of arms for fighting the Boko Haram insurgency.

Many have called for Metuh’s release or for him to be charged, including his family. The EFCC finally brought the case to court today on a seven-count charge.

Metuh had reportedly before his arrest, agreed that he received an undisclosed sum of money from former President Goodluck Jonathan, but never disclosed what the money was used for.

A source has revealed that the Metuh used the money to buy a “mansion” in London and Mercedes GL550 SUV (prices start from £60,000).

People close to Metuh believe that by being a “loudmouth” and a “thug”, Metuh was the author of his own misfortune. He is known in some circles to have embezzled PDP funds, and according to a source, even fought at the school that his children attend in London. His wife and children moved to London when he allegedly bought the property with the money that the EFCC claim comes from Dasuki.

There were reports that Metuh was planning to flee the country via Dubai and on to the Caribbean island of St Kitts and Nevis before he was arrested. He has a St Kitts’ passport – available to anyone with $350,000 to spare. As we reported here.

Some reports claim that Metuh has been on hunger strike since his detention because he claimed that the EFCC could poison him. One source who visited the politician said that Metuh believed that what is happening to him and others in opposition to the Muhammadu Buhari regime was an attempt by the regime to “destroy the PDP”, using the EFCC and the media, and to divert attention from the reality that the regime has no solutions for the country’s woes.

While there may be merit in some of Metuh’s claims, it is difficult for such claims to be seen as credible, because they are coming from someone who one source called “a lunatic”.