Man Freed after Spending 27 Years in Port Harcourt Prison for Crime He Didn’t Commit

Matilda Omonaiye/

57-year-old year old Nigerian man has regained his freedom after spending 27 years in prison for an offence he did not commit.

The man, identified as Clinton Kanu, is now championing the reform of the Nigerian judicial system.

Kanu was reportedly arrested at the age of 30 and convicted of murder in 1992.

He was subsequently remanded in Port Harcourt Maximum Prisons in Rivers state, while his appeal against the judgement dragged on slowly.

The case eventually got to the Supreme Court, where he was acquitted of the murder charge on April 5.

While in prison, Kanu reportedly continued his education and obtained Doctorate degree.

Kanu said some of his former fellows in prisons are serving terms for offences they did not commit, hence, his decision to dedicate himself to ensuring a holistic reform of the judicial system.

The report quoted some of his relatives who were at the Port Harcourt Maximum Prisons to receive him as saying that his unlawful conviction brought frustration and anger to the family.