Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has decried the continued incarceration of Godwin Odey, who was discharged and acquitted of a murder charge by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Enugu State, Barrister Osinachi Nnajieze, following a review of the case instituted by the Enugu State Police Command.
In a statement made available to journalists in Enugu, the President of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo Esq., lamented that Odey has remained in custody at the Enugu Correctional Centre over a separate charge of alleged unlawful possession of Indian hemp, reportedly found in the commercial vehicle in which he was travelling at the time of his arrest.
Omotayo recalled that Odey, an OND graduate of Banking and Finance from Benue Polytechnic, was arrested by the police on 20 September 2025 while attempting to board a vehicle back to Abuja.
He explained that after a series of court proceedings, CRRAN, alongside the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, petitioned the Office of the Attorney General of Enugu State, urging a review of the case to avert a miscarriage of justice.
Following the review, the Attorney General exercised his constitutional powers to discontinue the murder charge against Odey.
However, the civil rights lawyer expressed concern that Odey remains in detention over the alleged unlawful possession charge, which is currently pending before a Magistrate Court in Enugu and has reportedly been adjourned to November 2026.
“The length of this adjournment raises serious fair trial and due process concerns. We will continue to monitor the proceedings closely and take appropriate steps to ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied,” Omotayo said.
