The Nigeria Prisons Service has said that putting handcuffs on the National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh while appearing for his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday was at the discretion of the prison officer, who supervised his court appearance.

The NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore, said the officer in charge of the escort that took Metuh to court was at liberty to determine if the inmate should be handcuffed based on security situation, the environment and intelligence report made available to him.

Enobore made the clarification following comments in the media and by PDP, that putting handcuffs on Metuh is a plot by the All Progressives congress -led to subdue the major opposition party.

Enobore, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, stated that Metuh was not maltreated in any way, stressing that handcuffing an inmate was a standard procedure, which the prison warden could employ based on the situation at hand.

He said, “Handcuffing an inmate is at the discretion of the officer in-charge, depending on the security situation, the environment and intelligence report available to the officer. Sometimes they look at the atmosphere and take the necessary decision.

“If you suspect that the atmosphere, security-wise, may not be conducive to the inmates in your custody, you can use handcuffs; to avoid a situation where you have to start telling stories, you use your discretion to study the environment and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the inmates in your custody.

“Remember that we not only try to secure the inmate from escaping, we equally provide protection for the inmate. The officer in-charge must ensure that the life of the inmate is not jeopardised. It is the officer in-charge of the escort that studies the security environment and takes the decision to use handcuffs.”

Asked if there was intelligence that Metuh might escape or was in danger of being harmed, Enobore said he did not know because he was not at the scene.

He dismissed suggestions that the PDP spokesman was handcuffed to please the Presidency, saying there was no political consideration in the treatment of inmates by the prisons service.

Justice Abang had, on January 15, ordered the accused person to be remanded in Kuje Prison shortly after his arraignment on seven counts of money laundering preferred against him by the EFCC.

The EFCC alleged in the charges that Metuh, who was arraigned along with a firm, Destra Investments Ltd, received N400m, part of the money meant for the procurement of arms, from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

The EFCC alleged in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016, that Metuh and Destra, through their account with Diamond Bank Plc, collected the sum of N400m from the NSA office on November 22, 2015, for PDP’s campaign activities.

The prosecution also alleged that the N400m was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

It alleged that Metuh and Destra transferred the sum of N21.8m to Anenih and they (Metuh and Destra) thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The judge ordered on Tuesday that Metuh should not be released from custody until he met the bail conditions.

But in granting him bail on Tuesday, the judge dismissed EFCC’s objection to the application, ruling that the allegation that Metuh destroyed his statement and attempted to influence potential witnesses while in the custody of the anti-graft agency, was not substantiated.

Justice Abang added, “The truth of this allegation has not been established. The prosecution said that he, the first defendant, if granted bail, will try to influence potential witnesses.

“In my humble view, this is speculative. The court of law cannot act on speculation.

“The alleged conduct of the first defendant while in custody of the EFCC cannot be used as a factor or taken into consideration in refusing the bail to the first defendant.”

He said the offences that Metuh was accused of were bailable and that the accused still enjoyed constitutional right to being presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Metuh was arrested by the EFCC on January 5 and remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency till when he was arraigned on January 15.

The judge however dismissed the second prayer contained in Metuh’s bail application seeking an order restraining the EFCC from re-arresting him after being granted bail.

Metuh’s separate fundamental human rights enforcement suit is scheduled to come up for hearing before Justice Abang on Wednesday (today).

http://www.punchng.com/why-we-handcuffed-metuh-%E2%88%92-nps/

Ok

Oga spokes persons to the prisons, just say you received an order from above to place handcuff on his hand, and not all this long super story.

A good explanation.

As has been said already.
Dss and EFCC does not handcuff its suspects.

The nigeria prison system does.
And based on this. It did using discretionary powers.

No more noise please.

This same metuh assaulted a man few years back. He was supposed to be in jail for that alone.
This is not even karma, this is just a man who grew too big for his shoes paying for his financial crimes.

Pls make sure you chain his both legs next time because he is a hardened spokeman criminal and a danger to the society at large.

Metuh handcuffed our 400milla, it is only fair and just to handcuff him too.

If someone that stole Nokia 3310 could be handcuffed, then the person that is daring enough to steal 400milla should be neckcuffed.

Escape from armed men or what? The environment was so security tight that this explanation makes it the more clearer that their conscience is judging them. We already know and don't care

Its quite normal to handcuff an accused irrespective of status. After all Tafa Balogun was handcuffed and even received Jacky Chan treatment.

In other words the fear of metuh teeth is the beginning of wisdom.

Story story story, once upon a time time time, there was a man mango, who took a pen pencil to write a letter story....

If somebody's life is in danger soo handcuffing him will prevent tha.
Ok kontinu

See upside down logic.

let criminals be treated like criminals.

oshyno:
If somebody's life is in danger soo handcuffing him will prevent tha.
Ok kontinu

See upside down logic.

He could be suicidal

Actually, I think they should make hand cuffing standard procedure for all criminal cases. By the way, I love seeing that picture, it is a great lesson for all of us.

God Bless Nigeria!!!

You owe no one an explanation.

Metuh ate the forbidden yam and so he deserves every treatment he gets.

Next time, handcuff his two legs too.

bokohalal:


He could be suicidal

Nigeria politician suicidal , story. They prison officer is just trying to save face. The only excuse for handcuffing him is to please d oga at d top.

Trash

Osakah24:
Escape from armed men or what? The environment was so security tight that this explanation makes it the more clearer that their conscience is judging them. We already know and don't care

Metuh has history of being a thuggish,unstable character. The cuffs were to safeguard prison officials and Metuh himself from Harm.With his Kind of character he cud easily Harm himself to garner public sympathy.

Only those with brains in their heads can understnd!

I expected a response and it never fell shut

doctokwus:

Metuh has history of being a thuggish,unstable character. The cuffs were to safeguard prison officials and Metuh himself from Harm.With his Kind of character he cud easily Harm himself to garner public sympathy.

any past experience to back up ur claims?

Ok

Ok. Noted!

H

He's nothing but a criminal.

liar!

Ogbeni...you can do with the criminal as you like.....but to say you handcuffed him to protect him is like saying you drove a student out of an exam hall to hell him pass

Good to know these people are also getting the gists on nairaland...

OK

Why is Apc manipulating nps to issue condradicting statements? its boss had said Dambazau ordered Metuh's handcuffed. Nepotism at work

Super1Star:
Metuh handcuffed our 400milla, it is only fair and just to handcuff him too.

If someone that stole Nokia 3310 could be handcuffed, then the person that is daring enough to steal 400milla should be neckcuffed.

neckcuffed.......lol.