Crime
I was imprisoned for 27 years for committing no offence – 56-year-old man
A 56-year-old Nigerian man Clinton Kalu, who said he was imprisoned for 27 years for committing no offence, has said life in a Nigerian prison will not reform most inmates because of the hardship inside there.
Kalu, a native of Ndinwafor in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, was roped into a murder case in April 1992 by some undisclosed persons while trying to resolve a dispute involving his in-laws, he regained his freedom on April 5 2019 after he was acquited by the Supreme Court.
He pointed out that his 27 years experience in prison had taught him that anybody could find themselves in jail due to circumstances beyond their control.
The 56-year-old consultant criminologist added that while he was in the prison, he read more, had Diploma in Theology, Bachelor’s Degree in Guidance and Counselling, Master’s in Education Management, Master’s in Guidance and Counselling and also got PhD in Guidance and Counselling.
Narrating how he was sentenced to death by hanging or firing squad, Kalu said,
“27 years ago, some people were accused of stealing generating plant and fluorescent tubes.
“They are my in-laws. After the court decided the case, we heard that somebody was murdered in the compound where my sister married. But I was arrested because the thought by those behind my ordeal was that I was trying to resolve a land dispute in favour of one person.
“I was taken to Okigwe Police Station; from there I was taken to Owerri in Imo State and from there we were charged to court in April 1992.
“I was detained in Owerri Prison. I was at the tribunal for seven years because those behind my ordeal added armed robbery to the case. They believed I was a strong man and wanted to destroy me.
“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.
“So, from Owerri, I was transferred to Port Harcourt prison. At the Port Harcourt prisons, I waited for many years for the hangman’s noose.
“Nevertheless, I went to the Appeal Court to appeal the case but my lawyer messed up the case. Then I decided to proceed to the Supreme Court, where after 27 years in prison, I got victory.
“I was imprisoned for 27 years for committing no offence. On April 5 this year, I was discharged and acquitted.”
He cautioned that with the Supreme Court declaring him innocent, it would be wrong for anybody to tag him an ex-convict
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