Rivers family demands justice for son arrested at age 14 and jailed 18 years without trial

An Ogoni family in Rivers State has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government, and the Ministry of Interior following the 18-year imprisonment of their son, Gospel Kinanee, who was detained without trial at age 14.

Speaking with Arise News, the victim’s older brother, Paul Kinanee, recounted that Gospel went missing one night in 2007. Despite exhaustive searches across multiple police stations and correctional facilities—including the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Prison where Gospel was secretly being held— there was no record of him. Kinanee said the prolonged agony and uncertainty surrounding his disappearance ultimately led to the untimely deaths of both their mother and father.

The breakthrough in the case occurred recently when a lawyer on a routine prison visit noticed an inmate matching Gospel’s description. The attorney returned with Paul, who positively identified his brother, now 32 years old. Nearly two decades of severe prison trauma and isolation have left Gospel with profound mental health challenges.

Gospel had no formal trial or access to legal representation throughout his stay in prison. He finally secured his freedom alongside 20 other inmates during a jail delivery exercise led by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi. 

The Kinanee family is now seeking substantial damages and judicial accountability for the ‘destruction of their son’s youth and health.’

Watch a video of Gospel’s brother speaking below

 

 

 

 

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