Stephen Okon, a suspect awaiting trial, has expressed disappointment with members of his family for their failure to pursue his bail since he was arrested a year ago.

Okon was pardoned on Friday by the Kwara Criminal Justice Committee in Ilorin.

Okon, awaiting trial since March 17, 2011, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was punished for offences he knew nothing about.

NAN reports that the accused was arraigned for alleged mischief by fire and causing grievous hurt, before he was released by the committee headed by Kwara Chief Judge, Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb.

Okon, a father of two, was alleged to have burnt a shop beside his own at Eyenkorin, where he sold petrol as a black marketer.

The accused, according to the police prosecutor in the case, Insp. Abdulkareem Jimoh, was not caught in the act, but was arrested on suspicion that there was an impending misunderstanding between him and the owner of the burnt shop.

The pardoned inmate, who claimed to have his nuclear family in Ibadan and a brother in Sierra Leone, told NAN after he was released that he was shocked that none of his family members bothered to secure him bail.

"I'm very disappointed in my family because this is the first time I would be arrested by the police and nobody showed up.

"I prayed to God to save me and my family because I'm a family man. I have two children and a wife. They are in Ibadan.

"I have not been detained like this before. This is the first time I would have a case with police and I ended up in prison", he said.

He explained that a friend who was coming from Rivers to secure his bail was involved in an accident in which he broke his leg.

"He has been in the hospital for more than four months now. When I communicated with him, he told me that his situation could not allow him to pursue my freedom", Okon said.

He said he would return to his family in Ibadan to continue his business and start a new life.

"I'm very grateful, much grateful because I did not know what to do again. As I am, I don't have anybody here except God. I'm very grateful as the CJ discharged me. May Almighty God be with her."