The arraignment in court of the spokesperson of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, in handcuffs has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians who have been expressing their anger, resentment as well as satisfaction.
It will be recalled that Metuh has been accused of collecting N400 million, alleged to be part of the $2.1 m arms deal from the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) as well as tearing up his confessional statement, while in the custody of the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), last week.
But the Chairman of Association of Online Media Practitioners, Wole Arisekola, noted that there was nothing strange in the way and manner the politician was taken to court in handcuffs, adding that it will rather act as a deterrent to others.
Metuh was arraigned in court twice during the week, by the EFCC, and has been granted bail twice albeit from two different Federal High Court.
Arisekola, who is also the publisher of The Street Journal told journalists in Abuja that Metuh is perhaps the least of some public officials or politicians to be handcuffed and taken to court for prosecution.
He recalled a former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, was handcuffed and even maltreated by the security agents at the Abuja High Court premises on Wednesday June 29, 2005 during former President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.
In the same vein, he noted that the late Kogi State governor, Audu Abubakar was handcuffed when he appeared in court on March 18, 2013 on a 36-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N10,965,837,040 (Ten Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Eighty Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Forty Kobo) by the EFCC.
He however, called on Nigerians to realize the evils associated with corruption and support the effort of the present administration to tackle it headlong.
“Until we tackle corruption, nothing will work in this country and that is why we should all support the efforts of the present administration to tackle it,” he said
The presence of Olisa Metuh in handcuffs had tongues wagging with the PDP accusing the Buhari led APC government of trying to kill the opposition with spurious allegations. In response to that, the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said there was absolutely nothing wrong in him being handcuffed.