Impact Stories
Emeka, a 29 year old man who hails from Anambra State came to Lagos in 2007. He lives in the Orile area of Lagos State with his mother and works as a tricycle rider. On the 7th day of January 2020, Emeka was busy calling for passengers, when some Police officials came to raid in his area and unfortunately, he was one of the people arrested during the unlawful raid.
Arriving at the station, the police officers informed him that before he would be released, he must pay a specific amount and he told the officers that he has no such amount. When the police noticed he was not cooperating, he was charged amongst others to Court for Stealing and Cultism.
On arraignment on the 29th day of January 2020, he had no lawyer as he could not afford one, the court granted him bail, but he was unable to perfect his bail conditions. The matter was adjourned severally as a result of the courts not sitting due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the strike embarked on by the Judiciary workers.
On the 12th of January 2021, Emeka met one of the Lawyers at Headfort Foundation stationed at the Ogba Magistrate Court (one of the Mobile Offices of our “Lawyers Without Border” Project) and his brief was taken.
On the 29th day of July 2021, our lawyer represented Emeka in court and made an application for striking out of the charges against him for want of diligent prosecution and the Court granted our application on the ground that since the arraignment of Emeka in court, the prosecution has not been diligent in prosecuting the case while Emeka remained in custody.
Before his discharge, Emeka spent One year and Six months in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri.
