Kolawole Oladeji walks free after a 22-year wrongful conviction for generator theft in Nigeria. Pic: SaharaReporters
Lagos, Nigeria, July 1 —Nigerian technician Kolawole Oladeji released after 22 years in prison following a wrongful conviction over a disputed generator theft case.
His release, alongside co-accused Ogbona Igbojionu, comes 22 years after their conviction in a generator theft case that has drawn growing attention from justice advocates.
Wrongful Conviction Sparks National Outcry Over Nigeria’s Justice Failures
Oladeji, a generator technician by trade, was first arrested on October 30, 1999. He claimed he was detained after a generator—allegedly stolen—was brought to his workshop for repairs.
Despite his consistent claims of innocence, he was sentenced to death by hanging on January 14, 2003, alongside three others.
The case resurfaced in public discourse after a popular TikTok creator, known as Seaking, launched a sustained online campaign highlighting alleged miscarriages of justice.
The videos resonated with thousands, leading to renewed scrutiny of long-standing death row cases in Nigeria.
Appeal Withdrawal Delayed Justice for Generator Theft Conviction
Oladeji’s efforts to appeal his sentence stalled in 2018 when the Court of Appeal in Ibadan struck out his case following a notice of withdrawal filed by his counsel.
A panel of judges—C.E. Iyizoba, H.S. Tsammani, and Nonyerem Okoronkwo—confirmed the dismissal, further extending his detention without review.
He was previously held at a facility in Ogun State before being moved to the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos, where he remained until his release.
Years on Death Row Followed Plea for Clemency and Delayed Justice
In November 2020, Oladeji wrote directly to Governor Dapo Abiodun, requesting a pardon. In his letter, he pleaded for “mercy and pardon out of this predicament and imprisonment.”
He emphasized that he had already spent 21 years incarcerated for a crime he insisted he did not commit.
He also alleged that one of the key figures in the case, Segun Ajibade—who brought the stolen generator—was granted amnesty in 2016 by then-Governor Ibikunle Amosun. “Since then, nobody has come for me,” Oladeji said in a 2024 audio recording, “I was just a repairer.”
Freedom Renews Focus on Wrongful Conviction Cases in Nigeria
The recent development adds to broader calls for justice reform in Nigeria, especially in reviewing cases where convictions were made with questionable evidence or under strained legal representation.
Legal advocates say Oladeji’s experience mirrors the plight of many who remain behind bars under similar circumstances.
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International Rights campaigners continue to urge Nigerian authorities to improve transparency in clemency processes and expand legal aid access for inmates seeking to challenge possible wrongful convictions.
Read more about systemic legal reform and wrongful convictions via BBC Africa and independent reporting networks.
