The lawyer for the detained whistleblower in Anambra State, who has accused two senior police officers of organ harvesting, is arguing with a deputy court registrar at the Federal High Court in Awka over an allegation that she demanded a bribe of N1 million to release his client.
The whistleblower, Daniel Emeh, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) working with the Nigeria Police, has been apprehended in relation to a case being probed by the Force Headquarters. This case alleges that police officers were engaged in activities such as human organ trafficking, kidnapping, and the extortion and subsequent killing of suspects.
Emeh, an Information Technology (IT) specialist, is also accused of assuming the identity of police officers while fulfilling his role as a tracker within the Anambra State Police Command.
His lawyer, Justus Ijeoma, who has lodged a complaint with the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court regarding his client’s prolonged detention despite being granted bail by the court, has accused the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Awka, Nkem Mba, of displaying unprofessional behavior in handling his client’s bail.
In the formal complaint addressed to the Administrative Judge of the Federal High Court, Awka Division, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ijeoma asserts that DCR Mba is deliberately obstructing the bail process because his client refused to comply with her demand for one million naira.
However, in a prompt response, Mba refuted the accusation, emphasizing that she does not engage in corrupt practices to carry out her official responsibilities.
The Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) stated that it was Emeh’s father who attempted to bribe her in front of her team. She clarified that she promptly turned down the bribe.
“The bribe was offered in the presence of my staff and I rejected it. I don’t know whether it was one naira, two naira, or three naira”, the DCR said.
Mba explained that Emeh remains in custody as he has yet to fulfill his bail requirements. She emphasized that once he meets these conditions, she will promptly present his case to the Judge for further proceedings.
Additionally, she warned that she may report the lawyer’s accusation to the police.