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By Oke Steve
The Nigerian Justice system came again under public scrutiny as one Ogbonnaya Igbojionu who was sentenced to death on the allegation of buying stolen generator, regained his freedom after spending 26 years waiting for the hangman at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison.
Igbojionu, a native of Abia State who was 22 years at the time of imprisonment in 1999, emotionally at the Abia State Government House reunited with his family at the age of 40 years, in 2025.
According to reports, Igbojionu a trader in Lagos State was said to have bought a generator from one Segun Ajibade which he latter sold out to another customer thinking it was a genuine transaction. Ajibade was said to have two weeks after led policemen to Igbojionu’s shop where he was arrested along with Ajibade on the allegation that the generator was a stolen property.
The accused, according to reports, alleged that he was beaten, forced to sign a statement and remanded in prison in 1999 and latter sentenced to death in 2023 for the crime of buying stolen generator.
Igbojionu was said to have languished in the Kirikiri Maximum Prison for 26 years while Ajibade, his co-culprit who sold the generator was granted a pardon in 2026 by the Ogun State Government.
Reports also stated that Igbojionu along with another accused, one Kolawale Oladeji, a technician, allegedly underwent flawed trials at the High Court leading to their being sentenced to death adding they were misled into withdrawing their appeal at Appeal Court on the promise that they will be pardoned.
However, the plight of the accused was said to have ignited public outcry when a TikToker, Olamide Ogunsanwo spotlighted Igbojionu’s plights leading to a visit to the maximum prison by one Simeon Oshi from Enugu State, along with lawyers who then contacted the Abia State Government for action.
Governor Alex Oti, the report stated immediately despatched the state’s Attorney General to the prison for verification and in contact with the Ogun and Lagos State Government secured the released of both Igbojionu and two others from the Maximum Prison on July 6, 2025.
Eye witnesses say the emotional reunion between Mr. Igbojionu now 48 with his aged mother ignited a moment of joy and pain among the family who must have hoped for high dreams and brighter future for their then youthful son but whose freedom and fate was stolen by circumstances of life.
Meanwhile Governor Alex Otti has directed the immediate rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims to enable them rebuild their lives.
The plight of Ogbonna and others who languished in the kirikiri maximum Prison for 26 years buttresses the many atrocities arising from miscarriage of justice under the Nigerian Justice system that has seen thousands of Nigerians being detained and serving concocted sentences in various prisons and police custodies in the country under questionable circumstances.
