Man freed after decades in Nigerian prison for a stolen generator case. Kolawole Oladeji and co-defendant walk free after over 20 years on death row

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]an freed after decades of wrongful imprisonment, Kolawole Oladeji, has finally regained his freedom after spending over 20 years on death row in Nigeria.

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Oladeji, now in his 60s, was sentenced to death in 2003 over a generator theft case. He was released this week alongside co-defendant Ogbona Igbojionu, after years of campaigning by concerned citizens and social media advocates.

Their case, which drew national attention, was reignited by a popular TikToker known as Seaking (real name Olumide Ogunsanwo), who used his platform to highlight the miscarriage of justice. He followed through on the campaign until the two men were eventually freed.

Oladeji had been arrested in October 1999 after a generator was brought to his workshop for repairs. According to him, he had no idea the item was stolen.

Despite maintaining his innocence, he was tried and sentenced to death in 2003, along with three others.

In a recorded audio message obtained by SaharaReporters earlier this year, Oladeji recounted his ordeal.

“I am a Yoruba person and I have been in jail since 1999 for a crime that I did not commit. I am a generator repairer and they gave me a generator to repair,” he said.

He named Segun Ajibade as the main culprit, who allegedly brought the stolen generator to his workshop. Ajibade was reportedly freed in 2016 by then Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, a move Oladeji said was influenced by money and connections.

“Since then, I have been left here alone. My mother has died and my wife has also died,” he lamented.

“In 2016, they released the guy who brought the generator… He has gone home. Since then, nobody has come for me, nothing has been done in my case.”

Since then, nobody has come for me, nothing has been done in my case.

Oladeji and his co-accused, including Sunday Oloyede and Igbojionu, were kept at various correctional facilities including Kirikiri Maximum Prison. The current status of Oloyede and Ajibade remains unclear.

After his appeal was struck out in 2018 by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oladeji continued to seek clemency.

Represented by M.I. Omojola, his appeal was dismissed after a withdrawal notice was filed by his lawyer on March 2, 2018.

In 2020, Oladeji wrote to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, pleading for mercy. “I am now spending years on death roll. I am pleading for total pardon and freedom… I promise never to disappoint this State and Nigeria as a whole,” he wrote.

He told the governor he had already served 21 years, asking to be allowed to reunite with his family.

That letter, though not acted upon at the time, is now viewed as a crucial step in the long road to his eventual release.

The story has sparked renewed calls for reform in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Many social media users and rights advocates say the case exposes the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions and poor access to legal aid.

“This is why we must not stop raising our voices,” said Seaking in a post after their release. “Oladeji was almost forgotten, but he never gave up hope. We must fix this broken system.”

As Oladeji walks free after two decades, the shadow of lost time and shattered life lingers.