A Toronto man who spent more than five years behind bars on drug and weapons charges before being acquitted in a new trial is launching a $4.5-million lawsuit against police.

Nosakhare Ohenhen, 36, is expected to file the lawsuit Wednesday against the five police officers who arrested him and the Toronto Police Service.

Ohenhen, who had previous drug trafficking convictions, was arrested in August 2008 after officers pulled him over and searched his Jaguar sedan, where they found a gun.

He was convicted on 17 charges and sentenced to nine years in prison, down to 4.5 years with credit for time served. He was released on parole in 2013.

An appeal court ordered a new trial last year, and in September, an Ontario judge acquitted Ohenhen, ruling that there was no legal reason for his arrest or the searches of his car and person, and that he had been denied access to a lawyer.

Toronto police said they had not yet been served with the lawsuit and therefore could not comment