The National Publicity Secretary of the opposition party in Nigeria is currently living in fear on a preempted arrest by officials of the anti-graft agencies over allegations of misappropriation of the state treasury.
Olisa Metuh
The fear of a possible arrest by security agencies has gripped the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olisa Metuh.
At a crowded press conference at his office in Abuja on Tuesday, Metuh admitted he undertook a special assignment for President Goodluck Jonathan during his term of office and was paid for it.
Metuh however, refused to disclose the job or how much he was paid for doing it, and didn't allow the reporters to ask any questions after the short briefing.
"In the course of my duties as the National Publicity Secretary of our party, the then leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria invited me and directed that I carry out some assignment relating to my office and which he duly funded,” was all he said.
He added, “It is important to note that the former President was fully satisfied with the way and manner I handled the assignment," as if the satisfaction of Mr. Jonathan meant the arrangement was justified and legal.
SaharaReporters has however been informed by government investigators looking into how the former regime diverted funds into the pockets of private party members and they said that Mr. Metuh’s alarm is based on the discovery that he received N450million from former President Goodluck Jonathan to mobilize the media for his re-election in 2015.
The monies, a security source noted, were never used for the purpose for which they were provided. They said Metuh promised to do a media tour and meet with editors, but only visited Daily Trust newspaper.
Sources confirmed that Mr. Metuh, who has served two terms as the PDP National Publicity Secretary, had been billed to work with the party’s Board of Trustees chairman, Anthony Anenih.
However, when Mr. ‘Fix-It’ Anenih met Metuh, the party boss told Metuh he was already working with six editors at one of his properties in Abuja and demanded that Metuh pay rent to him to work from that site, an offer Metuh declined.