A group of men who spent more than 25 years imprisoned at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison for a case involving a generator have finally been released. These men entered the justice system as boys and endured decades behind bars, largely forgotten until online activist Sea King and other advocates brought attention to their plight.
One notable case involved Kolawole Oladeji, a generator repair technician sentenced to death in 2003 after being convicted of theft related to a stolen generator brought to his workshop for repairs. Despite maintaining his innocence, Oladeji spent over two decades on death row, witnessing the deaths of close family members during his incarceration. His co-accused, Ogbona Igbojionu, was also released alongside him.
The case highlighted systemic flaws in Nigeria’s justice system, including prolonged detentions without adequate review and failure to properly investigate claims of innocence. Advocacy efforts, public pressure, and intervention by notable figures eventually led to the inmates’ release, underscoring the vital role of activism in addressing miscarriages of justice.
Their freedom serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for reforms within the criminal justice system to prevent such prolonged and unjust imprisonments in the future.
