Etim moved to Lagos from Calabar, Cross Rivers State, in search of better opportunities. In October 2017, while on his way to work, he was arrested and informed by the police that he was suspected of being a cultist. Despite his protests that he was simply en route to his job, he was charged with belonging to an unlawful society. Unable to afford legal representation or secure bail, Etim found himself in a difficult situation.
During a prison outreach, Headfort Foundation’s Legal Aid Team encountered Etim and decided to take on his case. Our lawyer investigated the court records to verify Etim's claims and discovered that the case had been repeatedly adjourned with no progress.
On December 12, 2018, our lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that Etim had been unjustly imprisoned. The court agreed, and the charges against Etim were dropped.