John Tobia, a Nigerian man detained since March 6, 2017, has finally regained his freedom after spending over eight years behind bars without standing trial.
Tobia was arrested by the Nigerian Police and held at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, where he remained in custody throughout the entire period without a single court hearing.
His release on June 4, 2025, came through the efforts of human rights lawyer Hope Azeru-Oziri, also known as “Law in Pidgin” on social media.
Taking the case on a pro bono basis, the lawyer announced Tobia’s freedom on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the injustice of his long detention without trial.
“Freedom after 8 years, 4 months and 10 days. Court don release John Gift Tobia wey Nigerian Police send go prison for no reason.
“John Gift Tobia dey awaiting trial for 8 years, 4 months and 10 days. Normally, e no suppose better for some Police men,” Azeru-Oziri wrote.
“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.”
In a video shared after his release, Tobia, visibly emotional, thanked the lawyer for her intervention and spoke briefly about his plans to rebuild his life after nearly a decade lost to detention without trial.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
