A lawyer has made an accusation against a court clerk in Anambra state. The lawyer took to Twitter to allege a blatant attempt of extortion by a court clerk at Magistrate Court 2.
The lawyer, whose name remained
anonymous in a trending video, recounted the ordeal on X.com using the handle
@BishopPOEvang on Monday.
The lawyer said, “The
honourable magistrate granted my client bail in a very simple offence and my
client met the conditions.”
However, the process was
allegedly obstructed by the court clerk.
He further alleged that the
clerk resorted to insults when he refused to comply.
“The Clerk of the court
demanded that I must give her 20,000 naira before she takes the records (surety
bonds) to the Magistrate to sign,” the lawyer stated.
“The Clerk of the Court also insulted
me and called me names.
“This is the person that went
to the Magistrate for him to sign the document and returned back saying the
Magistrate demanded 20,000 naira”, he said.
This incident, the lawyer said highlights a concerning trend of alleged corruption within the justice system, while emphasising the importance of ensuring fair treatment for all, particularly “justice for the common man in the judiciary.”
“Whether we like it or not,” he
declared, “if there is no justice for the common man in the judiciary, there
will not be justice anywhere.”
The lawyer further challenged
the established practices surrounding bail, stating, “When somebody is granted
bail, bail is free at the police station and in the court. Nobody has the right
to demand any money before the bail bond is perfected.”
While agreeing to pay the
alleged bribe to expedite the process, the lawyer vowed to fight back.
“I promise you by Tuesday
morning, I will return the money, N20,000 cash. By the time I return the money,
don’t come to me again as a Lawyer”, he said.
This incident has drawn
attention to the need for transparency and accountability within the Nigerian
judiciary.
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