The Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) Wednesday explained why the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh was arraigned in court on Monday in handcuffs without giving any specific reason.
NPS said the handcuffs were put on his wrists because of security concerns along the route of movement and at the court premises.
The spokesman of the NPS, Mr. Francis Enobore claimed it is in the interest of Metuh and Nigeria as a country that mechanical form of restraints are placed on the wrists of the PDP spokesman.
Stressing that it was not out of place to have suspects handcuffed while taking them to court from the precincts of the prisons, he explained that there are three key conditions that warrant prisoners being cuffed while taking them to court for trial.
He said, “The idea of handcuffing a criminal suspect from the prisons to court is a tradition that is as old as the prisons itself. The officer in charge of the prison doing the movement of the prisoner or the senior officer in the escort team studies the security situation and takes the most appropriate decision.
“Part of the factors usually considered include the disposition of the prisoner, security concerns along the route of movement, around the court premises, mode of the relations or friends of the inmate, the general security situation in the country, the intelligence available to the officer-in-charge and a host of others.
“The decision to use mechanical restraints is normally taken in the best interest of all parties concerned. Note that the primary responsibility of the prisons is safe custody of inmates at all times. Therefore, whether in the yard, on transit, in court or hospital, the officer under whose custody the inmate is kept is duty bound to ensure that his security is not compromised.’’
Action in order – Oshiomhole
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole has added his voice in support of the NPS’ argument that there was absolutely nothing wrong having Metuh handcuffed to answer to the charges of corruption levelled against him in connection with the $2.1 billion Arms fund theft.
Speaking during a meeting with the new Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, led by Sir Roland Osakwe in Benin City, Wednesday, Oshiomhole said those who are accused of stealing he-goats are handcuffed and paraded by the police and get no sympathy from the public; why then should Metuh and others who diverted huge public funds be treated with respect and sympathy?
He said, “I want to appeal to the media to join President Buhari in fighting the anti-corruption war because if we don’t, and we allow these people to harass the President to silence, all of us are in trouble.
“I saw some headlines querying why should Metuh be in handcuffs. If people who steal he-goats, dried grasscutters are in handcuffs…I have been to the police station several times and I see young men who rob not more than N500,000 in handcuffs. They are paraded and made to sit on the floor. Why should certain set of criminals be treated as if they are not suspected criminals and serious crimes at that?
“When you all reported lavishly how under the former president, the former Defense Chief set up a military tribunal to try soldiers who ran away from battle-field and they were condemned to death. It was only Femi Falana who was consistent in fighting their case. Those are Nigerians who were to be killed for running away because they couldn’t confront Boko Haram that was well armed while they were asked to go and fight with their bare hands and we were told that weapons, ammunitions and everything had been provided.
“When Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said, ‘Look, our Armed Forces are fighting with bare hands,’ he was told to shut up. Now it is clear from current revelations that the money that would have been used to arm these young men who joined the army with pride and who, on a good day, have the courage to fight not only at home but abroad, but because they didn’t have arms, they ran away.”
They were sentenced to death. Thanks to Buhari, some have been commuted now to various terms of imprisonment which I applaud and I think even that one should further be reviewed, they should submit their uniform, but remain free people.
-Leadership