The Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, on Tuesday adjourned the trial of detained whistleblower and Information Technology specialist, Nnamdi Emeh, to October 27, 2026.
Emeh is facing trial over a report he published alleging the existence of an extrajudicial killing and organ-harvesting syndicate within the Nigeria Police Force in Anambra State.
He was serving as a National Youth Service Corps member attached to the Anambra State Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad when he was linked to a series of anonymous online reports published in early 2023.
The reports alleged that senior police officers in the state were involved in an organ trafficking syndicate, extrajudicial killings of detainees, extortion and kidnapping.
Following the publications, the Nigeria Police Force declared Emeh wanted on February 20, 2023.
He subsequently fled to the Republic of Benin, where he was arrested on March 3, 2023, and returned to Nigeria.
Although the court granted him bail in May 2023, he has remained in custody.
When the matter came up before Federal High Court 1 in Awka on Tuesday, the case was not heard after the court prioritised pre-election matters considered time-sensitive.
Counsel to Emeh, human rights lawyer Justus Ijeoma, said the court registry informed him that only pre-election cases would be entertained, leading to the adjournment.
“As you can see we are all here in the court today for continuation of proceedings in the case, you can equally see the father of the accused, Prof. John Emeh. But we were given a date by the court for the hearing to continue on October 27, 2026,” Ijeoma said.
Explaining why his client remains in detention despite being granted bail more than three years ago, Ijeoma said the bail order was still valid but had not been perfected due to procedural challenges.
“Yes, of course, Nnamdi Emeh was granted bail by the court on the 17th day of May 2023, following our application for bail that was argued before the former court, and the court in its wisdom admitted him to bail.
“However, we remain optimistic that Nnamdi will regain his freedom. We are not making a fresh application because the order admitting him to bail is still subsisting. It is for us to perfect the bail, and he will regain his freedom.
“Indeed the process of perfecting the bail commenced at a time whereupon we experienced a whole lot of human bottlenecks in the process of perfecting the bail.
“However, at the end of the day, the issue came up before the court and the court directed that the process be commenced afresh since there has been a bit of controversy around the process, which was already concluded, and the process has recommenced. That is what is delaying Nnamdi’s release,” he said.
Emeh’s father, Prof. John Emeh, described his son’s continued detention despite the bail order as heartbreaking.
“Nnamdi is our only child. The latest adjournment further speaks to the justice system we have in Nigeria. We are watching and very optimistic that he will get justice,” he said.
