Two civil society organisations, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), have responded to the Enugu State Government’s denial of alleged extortion by the Ministry of Justice, insisting their claim was based on verifiable facts.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, October 10, 2025, the groups said their attention was drawn to a government release titled “Justice’s Free, Outstanding, Efficient in Enugu State – Govt Debunks Alleged Extortion” issued by the Director of Information, Ministry of Information and Communication.
While welcoming the state’s clarification, RULAAC and CRRAN stated that their earlier petition was rooted in evidence, not hearsay.
According to the statement, on October 7, 2025, the groups jointly petitioned Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, highlighting the alleged wrongful arrest and detention of Mr. Godwin Odey, who was charged with murder and unlawful possession of Indian hemp.
They said the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice refused to receive a petition for review of Odey’s case unless a “₦50,000 review fee” was paid, claiming the case involved murder.
The courier company that attempted to deliver the petition, Autostar Courier Services Ltd., Enugu, reportedly issued a written notice confirming that the document was rejected on those grounds.
The organisations noted that Barrister Olu Omotayo, President of CRRAN, personally confirmed the report in a telephone conversation with a ministry official who affirmed the existence of such a fee.
“Our statements were therefore not based on hearsay but on documented evidence and direct confirmation from a responsible official,” the groups maintained.
RULAAC and CRRAN acknowledged the government’s denial of any official policy demanding fees for case reviews, especially in matters involving crime victims or pro bono practitioners.
“If indeed this is the policy — and we take the clarification in good faith — then it follows that the refusal to accept our petition on the cited ground was improper,” they said, urging the government to identify and discipline the official involved.
The groups said they would resubmit the petition through appropriate channels and monitor the case to ensure justice for Mr Odey.
They emphasised that their intention was not to malign the Attorney-General, Dr Kingsley Udeh, SAN, or the state government, but to ensure transparency and fairness in the justice process.
“Our duty as civil society organisations is to document, report, and seek redress where evidence suggests possible misconduct or denial of justice,” the statement read.
RULAAC and CRRAN commended Governor Mbah for his administration’s stated commitment to justice-sector reforms and urged that such commitments be reflected “in practice and conduct at all levels of the justice system.”
The statement was jointly signed by Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of RULAAC, and Barrister Olu Omotayo, President of CRRAN.
