The release of Jafaru vindicates his position to the federal government- Says PDP

Read the press statement below

The Peoples Democratic party (PDP) says the
release of the associate of President
Muhammadu Buhari and APC chieftain, Brig.
General Jafaru Isa (retired) by the EFCC barely
eight hours after arrest while its spokesman
Chief Olisa Metuh remains detained and without
being charged to court since last Tuesday,
vindicates its position that this Federal
Government is not fighting corruption but on a
clamp-down mission on PDP leaders.
The party said that its spokesman, who was
arrested without invitation by the anti graft
agency has remained incarcerated since
Tuesday while the APC chieftain who even
disregarded the commission's invitation and
had to be arrested was quickly released after
the EFCC boss meeting at the Presidential villa.
The PDP in a statement signed by the National
Legal Adviser, Barr Victor Kwon on Sunday said
there can be no clearer indication that the APC-
led administration is on a man-hunt against
PDP leaders, and that it has a personal grudge
against Chief Metuh, ostensibly for his stance
as opposition spokesman, particularly his
recent exchange with the government and the
APC over their dictatorial activities.
The party queried the action of the EFCC in
freeing Brig. General Jafaru Isa, eight hours
after his arrest last Wednesday night while
Chief Metuh is still being detained even when
the two are being investigated over same
allegation of receiving funds from the office of
the National Security Adviser.
“The release of Jafaru Isa, a known associate
of the President and chieftain of the APC eight
hours after his arrest while our spokesman
remains in detention even when the two are
being investigated over same allegation, clearly
shows that the President Buhari-led APC
government is not fighting corruption but using
the much hyped crusade as a cover to
persecute PDP leaders and decimate the
opposition, a project the EFCC has clearly
yielded itself as a willing tool.
“We have information of the marching order
from the Presidency for the immediate release
of the President’s associate and that his issue
is one of the major part reasons for the
repeated visits of the EFCC Chairman to the
Presidential villa within the period of his arrest.
Of course, there is nothing hidden under the
sun.
“We ask, how can the EFCC now explain to the
world that it is not corrupt and teleguided by
the Federal Government to persecute PDP
leaders?  What happened to the illegal holding
charge upon which it has detained the PDP
spokesman beyond the limit stipulated by
section 35(5a) of the constitution and in
violation of his guaranteed personal liberty
under the law?
“Are there now two separate sets of laws; one
for PDP leaders and perceived foes of the
President Buhari-led government which allows
them to be detained beyond constitutional
limits without being charged to court and
another set, for associates of the President
associates and APC leaders, which guarantees
them a slap in the back and immunity from
investigation and prosecution, and if arrested,
an immediate release?
“Is it really true that the fund Jafaru Isa was
alleged to have received from the former NSA
was traced near the corridors of those who
today bestride power in the country?
Furthermore, can the Federal Government and
the APC now in all honesty face the world and
announce that this administration is indeed
waging war against corruption?
“Can the EFCC explain what has happened to
several petitions by Nigerians on corruption
issues against many APC leaders including
those who as former governor looted funds
belonging to their state? Are they now under
immunity for the fact that they are in the APC
and that most of the funds they looted where
used to finance APC’s Presidential campaign?
“While we reiterate our support for any effort
aimed eradicating corruption in our nation we
stand our ground in demanding that the fight
must be holistic, credible, within the limits
provided by the laws irrespective of political
affiliations.
“The PDP therefore restates its demand that the
EFCC immediately releases its spokesman,
Chief Olisa Metuh or charge him to court if they
have any case against him. His continued
detention without being charged to court is only
indicative of the fact that the commission has
not been able convince itself of enough
evidence of guilt and is now lending itself as a
willing instrument of persecution against Chief
Metuh.
"The public will recall that the PDP is not given
to frivolous claims as evidenced in many
instances including our alert last year of a
meeting between the Presidency, the then newly
appointed INEC Chairman and top security
officers just before the Kogi and Bayelsa
governorship elections.
“Finally, we state with every sense of
responsibility that now that it is clear, with the
release of Jafaru Isa eight hours after his
arrest, that the continued detention of our
spokesman is politically motivated, this party
can no longer guarantee that it can rein in its
members and supporters who have been
exercising restrain since this particular arrest
by the EFCC.
Nigeria belongs to all of us and the laws are
made for all of us and must be applied on its
values and spirit without political
considerations.

Signed:

Barr. Victor Kwon

National Legal Adviser