PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh’s application for a speedy hearing of his suit challenging his prolonged detention in the EFCC custody has been turned down by the Abuja Federal High Court Thursday.
Metuh, through his counsel Ifedayo Adetibe, on Wednesday filed a motion at the court, demanding the immediate commencement of hearings on his suit.
In the interlocutory application, Adetibe told the court the arrest and continued detention of Metuh were not constitutional, and that the commission has no right to arrest and detain anyone without charging the person to court.
Metuh, accused by the EFCC of receiving N400 million from the $2.1 billion arms vote diverted by ex-NSA Sambo Dasuki, has been in the commission’s hold for about 10 days.
Justice Okon Abang, who was the presiding judge, said the matter was merely an interlocutory application, not a substantive issue and so cannot be granted an accelerated hearing.
“I so hold that in such an interlocutory application parties before a court can only be heard within the confines of the rules of court,” Abang said.
The respondent (EFCC), he added, also has five days to respond to the application—in case it’s not opposed to the application—before the matter can be heard.
The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told newsmen his client had already filed a charge before the court against Metuh, adding Metuh’s arrest and detention followed an order of court.
Justice Abang therefore adjourned the matter till January 20.