Two men, Mr. Ogbonaa Igbojonwu, a former trader from Ilasa, Ogun State, and Mr. Kolawole Oladeji, a former generator mechanic, have asked the Lagos State administration to take a look at their long-standing case and submit a fresh appeal.
Due to an unresolved disagreement over the sale and repair of a generator, the two have been behind bars since 1999.
In October 1999, SaharaReporters discovered that Mr. Segun Ajibade instructed his chauffeur, Mr. Sunday Oloyede, to bring a Lister generator to Mr. Oladeji’s workshop so that it could be repaired.
But Mr. Ajibade allegedly told Oladeji to sell the generator when the repairs were finished.
The receipts from the transaction attest to Mr. Igbojonwu’s good faith purchase of the generator.
But soon after the sale, Mr. Oloyede and both individuals were taken into custody.
According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, they were found guilty after a trial in 2003, given the death penalty, and then put in life in prison.
They claim that, despite taking their case all the way to the Court of Appeal, they were duped into dropping their appeal by the governor of Ogun State promising them a pardon, which never happened.
Under the prerogative of compassion, Ogun State Governor Ibidapo Abiodun has pardoned Segun Ajibade, the alleged mastermind of the events.
The guys have begged for justice, highlighting the 25 years they have been imprisoned for a case they feel the police and courts handled improperly.
In the meantime, Oladeji and Igbojonwu were visited by Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement activists at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Correctional Facility in Lagos on Monday.
The pro-democracy organization demanded prompt action and referred to the incarceration as a miscarriage of justice.
TIB demanded immediate action during the visit, including an appeal and case review.
Both offenders have been housed at the jail since October 1999 on robbery accusations, according to the TIB.
“Mr. Segun Ajibade sent his driver, Mr. Sunday Oloyede, instructions to carry a Lister generator to Mr. Kolawole Oladeji’s workshop in October 1999 so that it could be repaired. Mr. Kolawole Oladeji was told to sell the generator to any customer who was willing after fixing it. Mr. Ogbonaa Igbojonwu bought the generator without knowing where it came from, although he did see receipts proving it.Together with Mr. Kolawole Oladeji, Mr. Ogbonaa Igbojonwu later bought the generator and was taken into custody.
“He, Mr. Ogbonaa Igbojonwu, and Mr. Sunday Oloyede (Mr. Segun Ajibade’s driver) have been incarcerated since 1999,” Mr. Kolawole Oladeji added.
“They were put on death row during their 2003 trial and are currently serving life sentences.
“They appealed their case from the High Court to the Court of Appeal, but they were duped into dropping it by the governor of Ogun State promising them a pardon, which never came to pass.
“Ogun State Governor Ibidapo Abiodun has pardoned Segun Ajibade, who is accused of masterminding the events, according to the prerogative of mercy.
“We advise doing the following:
Case Review and Appeal: They ought to have their case examined and submit a fresh appeal.Media Exposure: The ineptitude of the Nigerian Police and the judiciary should be made public through the media, especially the prosecutors’ inability to establish their charges beyond a reasonable doubt and the Nigeria Police Force’s poor investigation.
