A Nigerian lawyer has shed light on a heartbreaking case that highlights the deep flaws in the country’s justice system. The lawyer recounted the story of Emeka Nzeruike, a young man who was arrested in 2015 at just 12 years old for alleged theft and has spent the last 10 years in prison without trial.
Now 22 years old, Emeka has lived the entirety of his teenage years behind bars, labeled as “awaiting trial,” with no legal representation, no court hearing, and no voice to speak for him. His case remained buried in silence until today, when a legal intervention finally brought him before a courtroom.
“At the young age of 12, Emeka was thrown into prison alone, afraid, and forgotten. No trial. No lawyer. No justice,” the lawyer said. “Today, we stood where justice had long been silent. We held his hands, walked him out of the courtroom, and gave him back his future. Welcome back, Emeka.”
The lawyer confirmed that efforts to secure Emeka’s release have now been successful, and support is being arranged to help him reintegrate into society.
