Justus Ijeoma, the defence counsel for a jailed member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Anambra State, Nnamdi Daniel Emeh, has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja over his client’s continued imprisonment despite the court’s bail.
Ijeoma, in the petition on Tuesday, accused the Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court in Awka, Nkem Mba, of alleged “unprofessional conduct” in processing his client’s bail.
In the petition copied to the Administrative Judge, Federal High Court, Awka Division, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the lawyer alleged that the Mba was deliberately refusing to process the bail of his client because his client refused to pay the N1m bribe she demanded in that respect.
The petition was titled, “A Petition Against the Deputy Chief Registrar, Awka Division of the Federal High Court. Re: Charge No. FHC/AWK/C/60/2023, The Inspector General of Police Vs. Emeh Nnamdi Daniel.”
The lawyer insisted that his client had met all the bail conditions as demanded by the court.
The petition read, “We are counsel to the defendant in the above-mentioned case, who is in custody, and by whose instruction and consent we write to Your Lordship. We shall hereinafter, where the context permits, simply refer to him as the defendant.
“The defendant, a serving youth corper with the Anambra State Police Command, was arraigned on a 12-count charge bothering on, among other things, “making false publications against the OC Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS” and “stealing” before my lord, Hon Justice F. O. Riman, on April 25, 2023.
“Consequently, the defendant was admitted to bail by the court on May 17, 2023.”
It also noted that all necessary terms for bail were promptly followed up and met, but the DCR (Mba) has frustrated all efforts made.
“The unfavourable disposition of the DCR started when she, sometime in May 2023, when we commenced the process of perfecting the bail of the defendant, had demanded that we should pay her the sum of one million Naira (N1,000,000.00) as the bail processing fees.
“We refused and told her that the defendant’s family does not have such money to pay and that such payment does not form part of the order of the court. Since then, she has been acting in the most unprofessional ways towards the process of perfecting the defendant’s bail. The circus of delay has continued without any respite in sight.
“Wherefore, we pray my Lord to direct that this matter be investigated with a view to curbing corruption and bringing the unscrupulous to justice. We cannot allow the DCR to continue as if attaining any position in public service is a license to act at one’s whims and caprices. Thank you, my noble lord, in anticipation that this petition will receive your kind judicial attention in the interest of justice,” the statement continued.
But in a swift reaction over the telephone, the DCR (Mba) denied the allegations, insisting that she does not collect bribes to perform her job.
She said, “I don’t collect bribes to perform my official duties. He who asserts must prove. It was actually the father of the boy (Emeh) who offered me a bribe in the presence of my staff, but I rejected his bribe.
“I won’t disclose the amount offered me, but the bribe was offered in the presence of my staff, and I rejected it. I don’t know whether it was one naira, two naira, or three naira.
“Why Emeh had not been released was because he had not met his bail conditions, stressing that any day he would meet his bail conditions, I would forward his name to the judge accordingly for action.”
She, however, threatened to report the allegations to the police following inquiries.
It would be recalled that Emeh, a whistleblower, had escaped from the country, alleging threats to his life after the publication of allegations of extrajudicial killings, and others had indicted some police officers of the Anambra State Command.
He was tracked by the Nigerian Police working with the INTERPOL and arrested in Benin Republic, where he had escaped.
He was returned to Nigeria and detained at the Force Headquarters for several weeks amidst fears for his safety.
After about two months in custody in Abuja, he was taken to Anambra State Police Command Headquarters, which also detained him for a while before eventually charging and arraigning him for, among other offenses, impersonating a senior police officer.
Peoplesmind
