Anambra Court Registrar Accused of Demanding 20-30 Litres of Diesel for Bail Verification

The Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Awka, Anambra State, Mba Nkem, has come under scrutiny following accusations of demanding 20 to 30 litres of diesel from defendants before finalising their bail conditions. The allegations, brought forward by several defendants and their legal representatives, have sparked widespread concern.

Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), raised the issue directly with Nkem after numerous complaints surfaced. In her response, the registrar denied any personal gain from the diesel contributions and provided a detailed explanation of the court’s bail process.

Nkem clarified that court orders required sureties to deposit refundable bank drafts in her name, which were placed in interest-yielding accounts at United Bank for Africa (UBA) for the duration of each trial. She emphasized that these drafts were part of the bail bond and not for her personal enrichment.

On the issue of diesel collection, Nkem explained that the court had faced severe power supply challenges, including a nine-month period without electricity due to theft of power cables. As a result, during court sessions, lawyers proposed contributing diesel to ensure faster processing of bail verification documents, particularly in light of the court’s insufficient subventions for fuel.

She added that the diesel was never monetised but delivered directly to the court’s generator. Nkem further noted that pro-bono cases or defendants unable to provide diesel were still accommodated whenever possible, and no one was unfairly excluded.

To uphold transparency, Nkem maintained that she always invited her secretary to attend meetings with counsel or litigants, reinforcing her commitment to trust and openness in the court’s procedures.

In her formal response, the Deputy Chief Registrar attached affidavits, bank drafts, and court orders for further investigation, concluding that she welcomed any corrections if any misconduct was found in her duties.