Man Regains Freedom After Eight Years in Prison Without Trial

After spending over eight years in detention without trial, John Gift Tobia, a Nman arrested on March 6, 2017, has finally regained freedom.

Tobia was held at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre without a single court appearance throughout his eight years, 4 months, and 10 days behind bars.

His prolonged detention began after he was arrested by the Police and remanded in custody while awaiting trial for over ten years.

His release on Tuesday, June 4, 2025, came after the intervention of Hope Azeru-Oziri, a human rights lawyer known online as “Law in Pidgin”.

Taking up the case pro bono, the lawyer brought Tobia’s plight to public attention via a post on X.

He wrote, “Freedom after 8 years, 4 months and 10 days. Court don release John Gift Tobia wey Nigerian P0lice send go pr,is0n for no reason. John Gift Tobia dey awaiting tria| for 8 years, 4 months and 10 days. Normally, e no suppose better for some P0lice men.

“Gift dey awaiting trial for years with no Hope until God remember am through me. On 4/6/2025, High Court for Rivers State don free am.”