After spending a decade behind bars without trial, 22-year-old Emeka Nzeruike has finally regained his freedom.
Emeka was just 12 years old when he was arrested and remanded in prison in 2015. According to reports, he was detained without legal representation, formal charges, or a trial a victim of systemic injustice.
For ten years, Emeka remained in custody while his peers went to school, pursued careers, and built their lives. He, however, grew into adulthood within the four walls of a prison cell.
On Monday, a court sitting in Lagos ordered his unconditional release and struck out the case for lack of merit. Human rights group Innocent Voices Nigeria, who had taken up his case, led the legal efforts that secured his freedom.
Speaking shortly after his release, Emeka reportedly kept asking, “Is this real?” as he was escorted out of the courtroom a free man for the first time in a decade.
“This is why we exist,” said a representative of Innocent Voices Nigeria. “To find those buried by injustice and bring them back to life. Emeka’s story is not just one of freedom, but a reminder that justice must be for all.”
The organisation also noted that many others remain in similar circumstances across the country and called for urgent reforms in the criminal justice system.
For Emeka, however, a new chapter begins.
