Identity mix-up sparks ₦10bn lawsuit after Rivers man’s alleged 18-year detention

Folami Olamide

A Rivers State family has instituted a ₦10 billion lawsuit against the government over the alleged wrongful detention of their relative, Gospel Kinamee, who they claim spent 18 years in prison without trial after disappearing from home as a teenager.

The case has ignited fresh concerns about prolonged detention, identity management and accountability within Nigeria’s criminal justice system, with legal experts describing it as one of the most disturbing allegations of unlawful incarceration in recent years.

According to the family, Kinamee was only 14 years old when he mysteriously left home in Rivers State and never returned. His sudden disappearance triggered years of desperate searches by relatives, who reportedly combed police stations, correctional facilities, hospitals and mortuaries in a bid to discover his whereabouts.

Despite their relentless efforts, no trace of the teenager was found, leaving the family uncertain about whether he was alive or dead.

The mystery surrounding his disappearance was only unravelled in 2026 during the Rivers State Jail Delivery Exercise conducted by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi.

The exercise resulted in the release of 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

According to the family, a lawyer who became aware of the exercise advised Kinamee’s brother to visit the correctional centre to determine whether his missing sibling might be among those being released.

To the family’s astonishment, he reportedly identified one of the freed inmates as Gospel Kinamee, ending nearly two decades of uncertainty over his fate.

The emotional reunion, however, quickly gave way to concern after relatives observed what they described as the devastating mental and emotional effects of the lengthy incarceration.

An even more startling revelation emerged when the family discovered that the correctional facility’s records did not identify the inmate as Gospel Kinamee but as Baridi Sunday.

According to available records, Baridi Sunday was listed as a 22-year-old suspect arrested for alleged armed robbery, a profile that the family insists bears no resemblance to Kinamee, who they maintain disappeared at the age of 14.

The apparent discrepancy has raised serious questions about how Kinamee allegedly came to be held under another person’s identity and why he remained in custody for nearly two decades without a court trial or conviction.

The family insists that Kinamee committed no offence and was never arraigned before any court throughout the period of his detention.

Following the discovery, they filed a ₦10 billion lawsuit against the government, seeking compensation for what they describe as wrongful detention, gross violation of his fundamental human rights, psychological trauma and the emotional suffering endured by both Kinamee and his relatives during the 18-year ordeal.

The lawsuit is also expected to test the accountability of agencies responsible for arrest, detention and inmate record management, while drawing attention to possible systemic failures within the criminal justice process.

Legal observers say the case could have far-reaching implications for prison administration, identity verification procedures and the constitutional rights of detainees, particularly those awaiting trial for prolonged periods.

The case has also renewed public debate over the need for comprehensive reforms aimed at preventing unlawful detention, improving record-keeping and ensuring that every suspect is accorded a fair and timely trial as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.

As proceedings commence, many Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether the court’s eventual decision leads to greater accountability and reforms designed to prevent similar incidents from recurring.