There are indications that the Peoples
Democratic Party spokesman, Olisa Metuh, is being kept in a prison cell
where financial scammers and those who had committed frauds were being
held.
It was learnt that Metuh, who was
remanded at the Kuje Prisons, Abuja on the order of a Federal High
Court, was isolated from other awaiting trial inmates to protect him
from being harmed.
Our correspondent learnt that the prison officers were also keeping a tight watch over him to prevent any foul play.
The court had on Tuesday granted the PDP
chieftain bail over a seven-count charge of corruption, but he had yet
to meet the bail conditions.
Less than 48 hours after, the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday morning slammed a fresh
two-count charge on him before Justice Ishaq Bello of the FCT High Court
over attempt by the politician to destroy a confessional statement made
to its operatives.
Sources said that the prison authorities
usually isolate high profile inmates from other criminals who had
committed violent offences like armed robbery, murder and other heinous
crimes.
It was gathered that the prison
authorities were following the standard laid down protocol in Metuh’s
case by shielding him from violent inmates who could attack him at
night.
The source further explained that Metuh
had not been eating prison food, adding that he had made arrangement for
his feeding, which he said was allowed.
A source said, “The prisons service has a
standard procedure they follow when it comes to high profile inmates or
VIP detainees as you call them. One, we don’t allow them to mix with
other inmates for safety reason. Secondly, we don’t keep them in crowded
cells, but they are kept with those who may have committed a similar
offence or offences.
“In Metuh’s case, we are observing the
same protocol; he is being held in a cell where people who had committed
similar offences were being kept, that is, those who did not commit
violent or capital crimes and we are keeping a serious watch over him to
prevent any foul play.”
When asked if the prison service was
giving Metuh special treatment, the Nigeria Prisons Service Public
Relations Officer, Francis Enobore, said all inmates were treated fairly
and equally, stressing that “there is no VIP treatment for anyone in
prison custody.”
He said that Metuh like any inmate
involved in a high profile criminal case, was kept with inmates who had
allegedly committed similar offences, adding that this is according to
laid down criteria in the prison system.
Enobore said, “When an inmate is brought
to the prison, the age, criminal records and type of offence he
committed are considered before we place him in a cell. When VIPs are
sent to us, we isolate them from criminals who are in prison on account
of violent offences like armed robbery, murder and other heinous crimes.
“We send them to a cell that houses
people of similar offence record. We do what is called classification
and this is according to laid down criteria. And what are the criteria?
Age comes to play here, criminal record is considered and the type of
offence. We try to group people.”
No comments:
Post a Comment