Nigerian Man Regains Freedom After 25 Years in Prison Over Alleged Generator Theft
- Nigerian man Kolawole Oladeji has regained his freedom after serving over 20 years in prison for a 2003 death sentence related to a stolen generator incident.
- Oladeji and Ogbona Igbojionu were released after their case gained public attention through TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, known as Seaking, who campaigned for their release.
- On October 30, 1999, Oladeji was arrested after a generator stolen by another person was brought to his workshop for repair.
A Nigerian man, Kolawole Oladeji, has finally regained his freedom after spending over 20 years in prison following a death sentence issued in 2003 over a stolen generator incident.
Oladeji, along with Ogbona Igbojionu, who was convicted alongside him, walked free thanks in part to a social media campaign led by popular TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, also known as Seaking.
The case dates back to October 30, 1999, when Oladeji, a generator repair technician, was arrested after a generator allegedly stolen by someone else was brought to his shop for repairs. Despite maintaining his innocence, he was tried with three others and sentenced to death by hanging on January 14, 2003.
According to Oladeji, the actual culprit, Segun Ajibade, was granted freedom in 2016 by then Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yet he remained behind bars.
His appeal was dismissed in 2018 after his lawyer withdrew the case. In a desperate move in 2020, he petitioned Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State for clemency, pleading for a second chance to reunite with his family.
After more than two decades on death row, Oladeji’s release highlights the flaws and delays in Nigeria’s justice system, especially for those with limited access to legal representation. His story has since sparked widespread public interest and discussions on prison reform.
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