The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has told the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other government agencies have the right to arrest and detain him.
The ruling of the court on Wednesday followed a fundamental rights suit filed by Metuh against the EFCC.
Metuh had sought the ruling of the court to pronounce his detention by the EFCC as a negation of his fundamental human rights.
He has been accused of being part of those who benefitted from the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the battle against the Boko Haram insurgency by the military in the North East of the country.
Metuh was alleged to have received N400 million out of the money from a former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki.
Before he was granted bail, Metuh had approached the court with an application seeking his release from detention.
However, Justice Okon Abang on Wednesday ruled: “It is my view that the applicant cannot complain of being held illegally, if he was held by an order of court.
“This court in determining his fundamental rights cannot overthrow the decision of the Magistrate Court.
“This court in its jurisdiction lacks power to declare the order that remands him for 10 days as unconstitutional since the remand order subsist.
“It is my view that the detainee cannot complain of unlawful detention by any department of the government where the detention was made with an order of court.”
Metuh was ordered by the court to pay N15,000 to the EFCC as damages.
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