16-Year-Old Enugu Student Released from Police Custody After Three-Month Struggle
A 16-year-old secondary school student from Enugu State has finally tasted freedom after being held in police custody for an agonizing three months. The news was announced by Olu Omotayo, the President of the non-governmental organization Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), which had relentlessly pursued the case.
Mary Nwaeze 
In a stunning turn of events, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Enugu State has finally tasted freedom after being held in police custody for an agonizing three months. The news was announced by Olu Omotayo, the President of the non-governmental organization Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), which had relentlessly pursued the case.
The young student's ordeal began in October 2023 when he was arrested on charges of rape, a move strongly contested by CRRAN. The organization, in a petition last week, implored Governor Peter Mbah to urgently intervene, citing the blatant violation of the Child Rights Act 2023.
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According to the petition, the student's academic pursuits were abruptly disrupted as he languished in police custody without being brought to court for any formal charges. Shockingly, the CRRAN alleged that the police were demanding a hefty sum of N1.2 million for the teen's release.
The parents of the detained student, Mr. and Mrs. Eze, claimed that their son's arrest stemmed from a dispute with a family friend, Mrs. Blessing Erede, who accused the teen of raping her 16-year-old daughter. Despite the victim denying the alleged assault and her father, Mr. Erede, stating there was no rape, the police pressed charges against the teenager.
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In a dramatic turn of events during court proceedings, the presiding Magistrate acknowledged the juvenile status of the accused and directed the police to resolve the matter and secure the teen's release. However, the Eze family alleged financial demands by the police and Mrs. Erede, making it impossible for them to meet the requested sums.
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The CRRAN, in its plea to Governor Mbah, expressed grave concern over the prolonged detention of the teenager, labeling it a severe violation of a Nigerian child's rights. The organization urged the governor to use his authority to ensure justice prevailed in this perplexing case.
As the story unfolds, many are now closely watching to see how this contentious legal battle will play out and whether justice will be served for the 16-year-old who has endured months of detainment.
