Following a media report that he was being investigation for corruption, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has decried the situation where accused persons are given summary trial in the media with no opportunity to defend themselves.
A newspaper publication had alleged that Metuh was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his role in the now infamous mismanagement of funds to the tune of $2.1 billion meant for procurement of arms for the military.
He said the trial of individuals on the pages of newspapers constituted an infringement on the rights of the individual and was a pointer to the tyrannical leaning of the government of the day.
In a Monday statement issued by his Special Assistant, Richard Ihediwa, Chief Metuh said he had never been invited for questioning by the anti-graft agency, wondering where the reports were emanating from.
The statement read in part: “If indeed, the report is from the EFCC, then they should note that only in a period of tyranny are people investigated on the pages of the newspapers as a prelude for abuse and violation of their freedom and rights under the law.”
While noting that smearing the name of an accused person in the media does not in any way prove that the person is guilty of the offence in question, Metuh said the normal thing in a truly democratic society for any investigating agency to do was to extend an invitation to such individual.
