By: Ajibola Timileyin
In the heart of Atta in Ikeduro Local Government area of Imo state, a young boy of 12 years, Emeka Nzeruike, was thrust into the cold grip of a system designed to protect its citizens, yet, failed him. For a decade, the boy’s life was stolen, his innocence shattered by the very government that swore to safeguard its citizens.
Emeka Nzeruike was arrested in December 2015 in his village, Atta in Ikeduro local government area of Imo State. He was arrested and charged with theft of private properties. The wheels of injustice began to spin as the young boy was locked up, left awaiting trial. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months and months into years, Emeka was now another forgotten case behind the cold iron bars of Owerri Correctional Center. After spending exactly 10 years behind bars Emeka Nzeruike eventually regained his freedom on the 29th of July 2025.
The process of Emeka’s freedom began when a member of the Legal Aid Council Of Nigeria, Barrister Alexander Nzeadi, spotted Emeka in one of the prison cells during one of the council’s regular prison visitation. The council usually engages in prison visitations to interact with the inmates and also offer legal aid to those in need of legal representation.
Barrister Alex stated that in July, the council was on one of their regular prison visitations when he spotted this young boy covered with so many irritations and infections on his skin; he was immediately drawn to him and decided to meet the boy to inquire about his wellbeing.
Firstly he asked the boy for his name, and Emeka replied. Barrister Alex began asking Emeka how life in prison has been and why exactly he was in prison — in the course of that he asked him how old he was and Emeka replied saying he was 22 years old. He then went further to ask how long he had been in prison.
“He replied me and said he had been here for 10 years, it sounded like a lie, i didn’t believe him,” Barrister Alex said. Barrister Alex then decided to meet the prison warden to request Emeka’s records to confirm these. After confirming he went back to engage Emeka further.
Emeka stated that he was arrested sometime in December 2015 for allegedly stealing private properties and was remanded since then because he couldn’t perfect the bail conditions.
After hearing this, Barrister Alex decided to take action. He started gathering information, the charge number, the division of the court and other documents that would guide him while seeking the immediate release of this young boy.
He filed for the records of the charge sheet and began reading the charges against him and also the amended charges. In the first charge sheet, the police claimed Emeka had stolen a couple of items, phones and TV’s and placed a monetary value to about forty million Naira. The police then later brought an amended charge sheet. In it they had taken away all previously mentioned items and now charged him for stealing a Plasma Tv worth eighty thousand Naira.
While investigating, he got to learn that Emeka was arrested alongside an older man named Thompson George. They were both charged with the theft of the properties to which Emeka pleaded Not Guilty.
Emeka was later granted bail and his bail terms included him providing a level 13 or 14 Civil Servant to stand in as a surety and also a sum of hundred thousand Naira. Due to Emeka’s condition at that time, being 12 years of age and also from a status our source describes as “the poorest of the poor” he was unable to meet the bail conditions. The other alleged accomplice, Thompson George, met the bail conditions and was released 3 days after. Emeka was locked up and the case never taken to court and he was also never brought before a judge again.
After fully learning about how Emeka ended up in prison and saw that he was still on bail. Barrister Alex and his team had the option of just perfecting the bail and bringing him out, but considering the fact that he had stayed for 10 years, which is way above the maximum sentence for the alleged offense. They decided to bring an application for the court to dismiss the charges and release him unconditionally. Their request was granted and he was scheduled to be released.
During one of Barrister Alex’s conversation with Emeka, he had inquired about his family and background. He learnt that, Emeka grew up his grandmother, who is very old, and he never met his late mother. Emeka also mentioned that for the 10 years he has been in prison not a single soul had come to see or check on him.
Barrister Alex took Emeka’s address and went to see his grandmother. Getting there Barrister Alex mentions that the grandmother thought they had come to tell her Emeka was dead. He stated that she kept asking, “Is Emeka alive?, is Emeka alive?” —for her it was too good to be true, seeing a group of people walking up to her after 10 years telling her Emeka was going to be released next week. He added that the grandma mentioned that she felt they actually came to release Emeka’s dead body.
He went ahead to question her on what she does daily to survive; she replied saying she clears peoples farms as a means to make ends meet. She also added that Emekas father is alive. Although he lives somewhere in the North Central, they both knew where Emeka was for the period of the 10 years he was away.
On the 29th of July 2025, Emeka was brought before a magistrate, after they got the case to be listed in court. Barrister Alex stated that when the court discharged Emeka, he didn’t know or understand what was going on. It was until other inmates present in court began congratulating him and shouting, “You are free” that the reality of him actually being free dawned on. Barrister Alex added that the first thing Emeka said and kept saying was “Is it true, am I really free?”
After his release, he went back to the prison to pick up his items and was then taken to a private medical facility to get him proper medical attention and was recently discharged on Monday, 4th August. He is yet to meet any member of his family but has been in constant talks with his father since his release.
Barrister Alex and his team have been ensuring that Emeka gets the help required since his release. He is currently set to undergo mental therapy for three months and then proceed to acquire a formal education as well as a vocational skill. They’ve also set up a donations box for Emeka and promised that the money would be applied solely to his welfare, education and long term wellbeing.
The story of the Emeka Nzeruike is not just a story worth sympathy, it is a call to action. It is a challenge to the government to confront its failings and to ensure that such an injustice never happens again. It’s a beacon of hope and voice for Emeka Nzeruike as well as many other young children/Citizens who Nigeria has failed in one area or the other. It’s a plea for compassion, understanding, and a renewed commitment to protecting the rights of every citizen, no matter their age or background.
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