Video: Man regains freedom after eight years in prison without trial
After being held for more than eight years without trial, John Gift Tobia, a man who was arrested on March 6, 2017, has finally been released.
Tobia spent a total of eight years, four months, and 10 days in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre without ever stepping foot in a courtroom.
His long detention began when he was taken into custody by the police and remained there while awaiting trial for over a decade.
Tobia was freed on Tuesday, June 4, 2025, thanks to the efforts of Hope Azeru-Oziri, a human rights lawyer known online as “Law in Pidgin.”
Taking on the case pro bono, the lawyer raised awareness of Tobia’s situation through a post on X (formerly Twitter).
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.”
