The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, has condemned the continued detention of a 16- year Senior Secondary school boy in Enugu State.

President of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo, made this known in an open letter to the state governor, Peter Mbah on Thursday, January 11, 2024.
The letter, titled, "Re: Continued unlawful detention of 16 -year (name withheld) at the state police headquarters, Enugu since October 9, 2023; A clear violation of the Child Rights Act, 2003," read, "Your Excellency, We write to you in respect of the above-mentioned matter on behalf of an SS2 student in one of the secondary schools in the state, who has been in Police detention at the State Police Headquarters Enugu since October 9, 2023.
"Mr. & Mrs. Eze, the distressed parents of the detained child stated that the complainant Mrs. Blessing Erede, used to be a family friend and they all attend the same church, by virtue of which children of both families exchanged visits but due to an altercation between them and Mrs. Erede, she came with police to their house on October 9, 2023, and alleged the child rape her 16 year old child named Marypeace sometimes in May 2023 and also in June 2023.
"The Ezes’ stated that since October 9, 2023, when their son was detained he has not been able to go back to school. They further stated that all efforts to settle the matter were rebuffed by Mrs. Erede, who insisted that their son must go to jail. 

"They further stated that even the intervention of the father of the victim Mr. Erede a serving Police officer could not secure the release of the detained child as his estranged wife Blessing insisted that police should not release the detained child.
"The Ezes’ further stated that despite the fact that the victim denied that she was raped, and her father Mr. Erede stated that there was  no rape; and also there was no medical examination/ Report to support rape, the Police decided to charge the child to court for rape.
"Mr. Erede not supporting what his wife was doing went further to depose to an affidavit before a Notary Public, stating that there was no iota of truth in the issue of rape raised by his wife but a ploy to extort money from the Eze family. The said affidavit is attached to this petition.
"The Police charged the child to court on October 26, 2023, in Charge No. MEN/384C/2023, on a two count charge of rape. The lawyer to the child G.S.K Iriaka, raised objection to the arraignment of the Juvenile and the presiding Magistrate, His Worship J.I. Agu adjourned the matter to November 1, 2023, for argument. 
"On November 1, 2023, the court took argument on the matter and the child’s lawyer pointed out that by virtue 207, 212, 216, 217 and 226 of the Child Rights Law, Enugu State, the child cannot be tried as an adult offender. 

"The Learned Magistrate thereafter directed that the officer incharge of the state Police Headquarters Legal Services should resolve the matter between the parties and secure the release of the detained child.
"The Ezes’ said they have been going to the office of the OC Legal, but were not able to meet the financial demands made on them. According to them the OC Legal demanded N500,000, the Investigating Police Officer Nwosu demanded N200,000, while the complainant also demanded another N500,000.
"As the Ezes’ could not satisfy the demands of the police and the complainant, they have written to the office of the Honorable Attorney General vide a letter submitted to his office on December 4, 2023, wherein they sought justice.         

PRAYER SOUGHT:
"We pray that you intervene in this matter in the interest of justice and ensure that justice is done in respect of this matter as the circumstance of the case demands. 

"We believe that the continued detention of the child at the Police Headquarters Enugu for over 3, months is a grave violation of rights of a Nigerian Child and the refusal of the Police to admit him to bail is not only worrisome but also a clear assault on the Administration of Criminal Justice in the state and Nigeria as a whole.We earnestly seek your intervention in this matter.
"The Honorable Attorney General of Enugu State. The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Police Command, Enugu."