A Nigerian man, Kolawole Oladeji, has finally regained his freedom after spending more than two decades in prison, following a death sentence handed down in 2003 over a controversial stolen generator case that shook many observers and activists.
Oladeji was arrested on October 30, 1999, after a generator, allegedly stolen by another individual, was brought to his workshop for repairs. Despite repeatedly declaring his innocence and insisting he was merely a generator repairer, he was charged, tried along with three others, and eventually sentenced to death by hanging on January 14, 2003.
Another individual involved in the case, Segun Ajibade, was later released in 2016 by a pardon from the then Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun. Unfortunately, Oladeji remained behind bars even after this development. Speaking out, Oladeji lamented, “I have been in jail since 1999 for a crime I did not commit. I am a generator repairer who was simply doing my job.”
In 2018, his appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan after his lawyer surprisingly withdrew the case, further worsening his plight and prolonging his suffering. Undeterred, in November 2020, Oladeji wrote a heartfelt petition to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, passionately pleading for clemency and a chance to return to his family and resume a normal life after decades of wrongful incarceration.
The case attracted widespread attention and sympathy from the public after it was highlighted by popular TikToker and humanitarian activist Olumide Ogunsanwo, widely known as Seaking. Seaking relentlessly campaigned online and offline for the release of Oladeji and his co-defendant, Ogbona Igbojionu, mobilizing support and bringing national focus to the injustice they endured.
After 25 years of wrongful imprisonment, Oladeji’s eventual release not only marked a personal victory but also served as a sobering reminder of systemic flaws within the Nigerian justice system. Many observers and activists have since called for comprehensive reforms, citing Oladeji’s story as an example of how delays and legal missteps can ruin lives and devastate families.
His co-defendant, Ogbona Igbojionu, was also freed alongside him, with both men finally stepping out into freedom after spending most of their adult lives behind bars. Their reunion with loved ones was marked by tears of joy, relief, and overwhelming emotion as they embraced life outside prison walls for the first time in over two decades.
Oladeji expressed deep gratitude to Seaking and everyone who supported him, as well as to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and other officials who contributed to making the release possible. He expressed hope for a fresh start and called on the government to ensure that no other innocent person suffers the same fate he endured.
The heartwarming moment of Oladeji’s release was captured in a video that has since gone viral, showing his first steps to freedom and emotional reactions from supporters and well-wishers who gathered to welcome him home.
WATCH VIDEO:
“With the help of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and my Honourable, the inmate who was accused of stealing a generator in 1999 has finally regained his freedom today after spending 25 years in prison as an awaiting trial inmate.”🥹🥺
-SeaKing reveals. https://t.co/a1Wy5OLMd8 pic.twitter.com/Gc33Jn8hzc
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) July 1, 2025