Man Wrongly Imprisoned For 27 Years Seeks N20bn Compensation

A 56 - year -old man , Clinton Kanu , has said he will demand a N 20 bn compensation for spending 27 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit .
Kanu , who was sentenced to death in 1992 for murder , was freed by the Supreme Court on April 5 , 2019 .
The Okigwe , Imo State -born consultant criminologist explained that though he made efforts to absolve himself from a gang -up that led to his incarceration, nobody was ready to listen to him until he was jailed.
While in prison , Kanu lost his mother ; coupled with the fact that he was not married , he said he fought loneliness .
Kanu , who recounted the incident that led to his travail , said , “About 27 years ago , some people were accused of stealing a generator and fluorescent tubes ; they were my in -laws .
“After a court decided the case , we suddenly heard that somebody was killed in the compound where my sister married . I was arrested because those behind my ordeal thought I was trying to resolve a land dispute in favour of one person.
“I was taken to the Okigwe Police Station and later transferred to Owerri , where I was charged to court in April 1992 . I was detained in the Owerri prison . I was at the tribunal for seven years because those behind my ordeal included armed robbery to the case . They believed I was a strong man and wanted to tie me down.
“They brought false witnesses to testify against me at the tribunal . I was later taken to a regular court where I was condemned to death. From Owerri , I was transferred to the Port Harcourt prison . At the Port Harcourt prison , I waited for many years for the hangman ’ s noose .
“I went to the Appeal Court to appeal the case , but my lawyer messed it up . Then I decided to proceed to the Supreme Court , where after 27 years in prison , I was vindicated . I was detained for nothing for 27 years ; I was discharged and acquitted on April 5 , 2019 .”
Speaking to our correspondent on Saturday , Kanu argued that he would demand N 20 bn compensation from the Federal Government and his state ( Imo State ) for the damage done to his business .
He also stated that he developed ill health due to the prison ’s dirty environment , adding that with the help of his lawyer , he hoped to be well compensated .
“It seems as if everything collapsed on my head ; I don ’t know where to start from . My head is jam -packed with thoughts and I need to ask God to direct me . I really need help .
“I am considering asking for compensation from the Federal Government and my state . I want this legal parochialism and injustice to stop.
“When you talk about the damage done to my business and to my health , due to the prison ’s dirty environment , and a lot of other things that have gone wrong, if I put my losses in billions, I don’t think it is out of place .
“The money is just to make me solve my problems and get back to normal life . I will ask for N 20 bn compensation ,” Kanu said .
He thanked his church and some relatives who had been feeding and accommodating him since he left prison last Tuesday
(Punch)