Whistleblower, Nnamdi Emeh Accuses Deputy Court Registrar Of Demanding N1million To Process His Bail After Prolonged Detention By Police | #NwokeukwuMascot

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 Mr Nnamdi Emeh 

Nigerian whistleblower, Nnamdi Emeh, who exposed an alleged organ trafficking ring in the Anambra State Command of Nigerian Police Force has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja over his continued incarceration despite court granting him bail.

Emeh in the petition dated October 3, 2023, through his Counsel, Justus Ijeoma accused the Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court in Awka, Nkem Mba, of alleged “unprofessional conduct” in processing his bail because his family could not pay N1 million she allegedly demanded as gratification to process the bail.

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 whistleblower who has been in detention since February, from various police cells to prison alleged that Mba was deliberate in refusing to process his bail after meeting all the conditions the trial judge, Justice F. O. Riman, imposed.

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.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the court granted the whistleblower bail and while he was yet to meet the stringent bail conditions, the police were already planning to re-arrest him at court premises.

It had been reported that the police on May 12, 2023 arraigned Emeh, before a Federal High Court in Awka, on 12 counts charge, accusing him of committing crimes alleged to have violated several regulations and laws.

Emeh pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court later admitted him to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

"Sureties to have landed property within jurisdiction and evidence of payment of 3years tax.

"To deposit his International passport with the Crt DCR and get it back on application when the need arises."

SaharaReporters had reported that Emeh, who has been in police custody for weeks, was on April 2, 2023, transferred from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka.

His transfer to the state came despite public outcry as to why he would be transferred from the Force Headquarters Abuja to the Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police, where most of its senior officers were named in the gory details of the atrocities happening at Awkuzu, SARS.

It had been reported that the police alleged in a court documents that Emeh was arrested for malicious publications against the police and for electronically hacking into the bank account of a suspect under investigation.

The prosecuting agency, also accused Emeh of transferring a large sum of money into his personal bank account from the suspect’s account.