Two prominent human rights organisations, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), have accused the Enugu State Ministry of Justice of demanding a ₦50,000 payment before accepting a petition to review a criminal case, an allegation the state government has firmly denied.
In a joint petition dated October 7, 2025, and addressed to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the groups described the demand as “a disturbing example of official misconduct” that threatens public confidence in the state’s legal system.
The petition, signed by Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of RULAAC, and Barrister Olu Omotayo, President of CRRAN, centers around the case of Godwin Odey, a 27-year-old OND graduate from Benue State.
Odey is currently facing charges of murder and unlawful possession of Indian hemp (under Charge Nos. MEN/566C/2025 and MEN/565C/2025), stemming from his arrest in Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGA, on September 20, 2025.
According to the groups, Odey was returning from a traditional wedding when he was arrested, allegedly after the police claimed cannabis was found in the vehicle he was riding.
However, witnesses maintain he was at the wedding throughout and suggest his arrest was an attempt at extortion gone wrong.
The rights bodies said that when their legal representatives attempted to submit a petition requesting a review of the case to the Attorney-General’s office, they were told a ₦50,000 “review fee” must be paid first, a condition they view as unlawful and unjust.
RULAAC and CRRAN are now urging Governor Mbah to launch an independent investigation into the allegation, discipline any officials found culpable, and order an immediate review of Odey’s case to avoid what they fear could be a grave miscarriage of justice.
“A justice ministry demanding money before accepting a petition involving a possible wrongful prosecution is deeply troubling and unacceptable,” they said.
In response, the Enugu State Government has categorically denied the allegations, describing them as “false, malicious, and misleading.”
In a statement issued Friday by Chukwuemeka Nebo, Director of Information at the Ministry of Information and Communication, the government stated that the Ministry of Justice does not charge any fee for receiving or processing petitions related to criminal cases.
“The only payments required are standard administrative fees for services such as certified true copies or legal fiats, not for the submission or review of complaints, especially from victims or lawyers offering pro bono support,” Nebo clarified.
He added that these fees are paid into government accounts and are part of long-standing public service protocols, not illegal charges.
The statement further defended Attorney-General Dr. Kingsley Udeh, SAN, describing him as a figure of “impeccable integrity,” and highlighted the Mbah administration’s ongoing justice reforms, including Digitization of court systems, Establishment of citizen rights and mediation centres across LGAs as well as Creation of a Witness Support Fund.
“This is nothing more than a smear campaign from those opposed to the government’s transparent and reform-driven justice agenda,” the statement said.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to a fair, accessible, and corruption-free justice system, insisting that all petitions are processed free of charge.
