Civil society organisation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has called on the Enugu State government to implement urgent reforms in the administration of justice at Magistrates’ Courts, citing persistent denial and obstruction of justice.

In a petition addressed to Governor Peter Mbah, CRRAN President Olu Omotayo Esq. highlighted two cases demonstrating alleged gross violations of citizens’ rights: Godwin Odey, an innocent man charged with murder while attending a wedding in Obollo-Afor, Udenu, and Yusuf Omotara, who was unlawfully detained and had nearly ₦5 million withdrawn from his account under questionable court orders.

“We write to you in respect of this matter, which clearly shows the grave violations of the right to access justice of citizens in Enugu State and the refusal of authorities to take prompt and immediate action to redress these violations,” the petition stated.

Odey, an OND graduate, was reportedly arrested while traveling to Abuja. Despite evidence placing him at a wedding at the time of the alleged crime, his case file has yet to be transferred to the Attorney General’s office for review, according to CRRAN.

The organisation also referenced a previous report by SaharaReporters on October 8, 2025, in which CRRAN and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) raised concerns about “justice for sale” at the office of the Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. At the time, the AG allegedly refused to accept a petition requesting a review of Odey’s case without a ₦50,000 “review fee.” The then-AG, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, denied the report.

Regarding Omotara’s case, CRRAN stated that he was detained for nearly a week and had a significant sum withdrawn from his account based on a court order allegedly procured by a lawyer in collusion with a Magistrate Court official.

The organisation is demanding:

• Immediate investigation into the injustices highlighted
• Prosecution of officials found responsible
• Full restitution of money unlawfully withdrawn from Omotara’s account

Omotayo emphasised the critical role Magistrates’ Courts play as the judiciary closest to the people, urging Governor Mbah to take swift action to ensure that corrupt practices do not continue to deny citizens access to justice.

“We appreciate that the state government has invested significantly in improving the justice system over the years, but these illegalities and abnormalities must be urgently addressed to ensure efficient administration of justice in the state,” Omotayo said.

As of Friday, Governor Mbah has not publicly responded to the petition, but CRRAN continues to call for immediate reforms and accountability.