Iyunade Grace
A Jigawa Court has freed a man who was detained for 10 years without trial and awarded him N10 million in damages, highlighting the issue of prolonged detention without trial in Nigeria. Although the specific details of the case are not available, similar cases have sparked outrage and calls for judicial reform.
In a landmark judgment, a Lagos High Court recently ordered the release of a man, Sewedo Folorunsho, who was detained for eight years without trial, awarding him N500,000 in damages. The court ruled that the prolonged detention was a gross violation of Folorunsho’s constitutional rights.
The Nigerian justice system has been criticized for its slow pace and high number of detainees awaiting trial. Many individuals remain incarcerated without trial, often for minor infractions or without clear charges.
In June 2025, a Rivers State High Court ordered the release of John Gift Tobia, who spent over eight years in detention without trial. Tobia’s case drew widespread attention, with many Nigerians condemning the judicial system for enabling prolonged detentions .
Tobia’s release was facilitated by human rights lawyer Hope Azeru-Oziri, who took up the case pro bono. Tobia expressed gratitude for his freedom and spoke about rebuilding his life after nearly a decade lost .
The issue of unlawful detention is not unique to Lagos or Rivers State. In 2006, the Nigerian Prisons Service reported an average pre-trial detention period of nearly four years, with many held for longer.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court has also ruled against Nigeria for violating human rights, including the case of Sikuru Alade, who was detained for over nine years without trial.These cases underscore the need for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s judicial system to prevent prolonged detentions without trial.
