Metro

Justice At Last: Innocent Bricklayer, Lukman, Freed After 24-yr Incarceration

Published

1 year ago

June 26, 2024

Lukeman Adeyemi

Lukman Adeyemi, a 50-year-old bricklayer, recounts his harrowing 24-year ordeal behind bars, the result of a misguided act of loyalty towards a friend.

His story, reported by Vanguard, highlights systemic flaws and injustices that led to his prolonged and wrongful incarceration.

Adeyemi describes his initial encounter with the justice system as a descent into hopelessness. He spent nine years in pre-trial detention, followed by an unbearable 15 years on death row.

The conditions he faced were nothing short of torturous, akin to a dark and endless nightmare.

During interrogations by SARS Police officers, Adeyemi endured severe physical and psychological torment, leading to coerced confessions for crimes he knew nothing about.

Reflecting on his unjust predicament, Adeyemi questions the integrity and fairness of the system.

Despite being an innocent bystander, he was entangled in a legal quagmire that seemed insurmountable. His decision to accompany his friend Ismaila Lasisi to the police station, out of loyalty, led to his wrongful arrest and subsequent incarceration.

Throughout his imprisonment, Adeyemi faced scepticism and disbelief when attempting to share his truth. This prevailing sentiment of doubt and suspicion only added to his misery, as he grappled with false accusations and a lack of justice.

However, hope emerged when he encountered the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation, headed by Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi. Their support and advocacy signalled a potential breakthrough in his quest for freedom.

Adeyemi shared his story: “I am Lukman Adeyemi, a native of Iwere-Ile, Iwajowa Local Government, Oyo State. I am a bricklayer by profession. I was 26 years old when I had this problem. In August 2000, after returning home from work with a friend living with me, Ismaila Lasisi, we were told that the police came looking for Ismaila and he was asked to report to the station.

“I immediately decided to follow him to the station. Lo and behold, I was arrested and detained along with him. I was tortured to the point of death over a crime I knew nothing about, right from the police station. I had a close shave with death over the murder of a woman hired by some of Ismaila’s ex-friends to fetch water for them at a construction site. The woman left home in the morning and never returned.

“Ismaila once lived with them. He begged to live with me after a misunderstanding with these people in March. I knew these people from a distance. Our paths never crossed. This was how I was charged to court along with these people over an offence I knew nothing about. In 2009, we were sentenced to death. We filed separate appeals, but they failed up to the Supreme Court.

“My story of innocence to whoever cared to listen fell on deaf ears, with many questioning, ‘If you’re not one of them, why mention your name?’ and ‘If truly you are innocent, why can’t the court free you?’

“I felt abandoned by the truth itself. I spent 24 years behind bars like 24 hours, a sleepless night that lasted for two decades.

“In June 2023, one of the officers of the Correctional Service, Deputy Superintendent of Correctional (DSC) AbdulKareem Awesu, introduced my case to a pastor, and I spoke with him on the phone.”

The Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation steps in “On July 17, 2023, the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR), led by Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi, visited us at the Ibara Correctional Service. They listened to all of us, including the culprits who exonerated us. The organization reviewed our judgment and shed light on our innocence. June 14, 2024, will remain an evergreen and memorable day in my life. Light shone upon me; rain fell on my head for the first time, and I saw the moon for the first time.

“I never knew I could pay for the sin of another man. How could I have committed an offence and still boldly walk into a police station to report myself?

“I am grateful that the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation intervened on my behalf, a beacon of hope in a sea of despair. Their belief in my innocence reignited the flame of justice within me, propelling me toward the possibility of redemption.”

The Executive Director of CJMR, Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi, elaborated on their efforts: “Our attention was drawn to the complaints of these two individuals by Welfare Officer DCP Awesu, who assured us of their innocence and the efforts made through the legal process without justice.

“We visited the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta to hear from them. The true perpetrators confessed that they committed the crime and that Adeyemi and Lasisi were innocent. We reviewed their judgments from both the trial court and the Supreme Court and found that the state’s presentation before the appellate court never allowed the court to shift ground.

“Lukman Adeyemi and his friend filed separate appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. None of the lawyers explored the way of arresting each person involved in this case. The course of probing the arrest process unfolded the truth.

“In the record of proceedings, we stumbled on evidence from PW1, a police officer who detailed the arrest. The contradictions in the judgments, the confessions of the real perpetrators, and the corroboration of their innocence led us to forward our findings to the office of the Attorney-General of Ogun State and the Committee for the Board of Prerogative of Mercy, who considered our appeal.”

Pastor Olujobi highlighted issues like poor lawyering, misleading police information, and relentless prosecution as key factors in wrongful convictions in Nigeria. He emphasized that while police evidence is typically held in high regard, not all evidence is accurate or reliable.

Recognizing the fallibility of judges, the appellate process exists to rectify lower court errors. When justice remains elusive after exhausting legal avenues, CJMR reviews court evidence and presents cases to the Board of Mercy for consideration.

CJMR has successfully facilitated the release of over 20 wrongfully convicted individuals and secured the freedom of more than 600 unlawfully detained people in the South West Nigeria Custodial Service. They have reintegrated over 300 individuals back into society. Currently, they are reviewing 12 death row inmates and 10 awaiting trial cases for intervention. For those awaiting trial, CJMR collaborates with pro bono lawyers to represent them in various high courts in Ogun, Oyo, and Osun States, providing transportation support to ensure their court presence.

In cases of extended detention without legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, CJMR advocates for their rights by demanding case file updates from the Ministry of Justice. If no case file is found, they escalate the matter to the Chief Judge’s office for resolution.

Support from the Ogun State Chief Judge, Honorable Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu FICMC, FHNR, the Ogun State Ministry of Justice, and former Oyo State Chief Judge, Honorable Justice Munktar Abimbola (Rtd), has been instrumental in advancing these initiatives.

With the collective efforts of the Nigeria Correctional Service, the Committee for the Board of Mercy, Ogun State, and Governor Dapo Abiodun, Lukman Adeyemi and Ismaila Lasisi’s innocence was finally recognized. The real perpetrators confessed, leading to their release.

Adeyemi and Lasisi express their gratitude to all who played a role in their eventual freedom, acknowledging the challenges faced and lives lost during their wrongful imprisonment.

Currently, Lukman Adeyemi and Ismaila Lasisi are at the CJMR Halfway Home for recovery and reintegration.
PUNCH

Metro

Lagos Woman Remanded For False Foreign Currency Declaration

Published

15 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded Ifunanya Phil-Olumba in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre over allegations of falsely declaring and failing to declare foreign currency totaling $14,567, £1,030, and CA$40 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had preferred three counts against the defendant, accusing her of making false declarations to the Nigeria Customs Service and failing to declare foreign currency, contrary to Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the resumed proceedings, before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, the prosecution, led by Okezie Chineye, called two witnesses.

The first prosecution witness, an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs. Stella Ogar, told the court that the defendant was intercepted during inward clearance from the United Kingdom.

According to Ogar, the defendant declared only CA$4,000, despite allegedly being in possession of CA$14,000, alongside other undeclared sums.

“We arrested her and handed her over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation,” Ogar testified.

The second prosecution witness, an EFCC operative, Felicia Paul, confirmed that the defendant was handed over to the commission by the customs.

She stated that the defendant was interrogated and opted to make a written statement, which the prosecution sought to tender in evidence.

However, defence counsel, Edwin Anikwem, objected to the admissibility of the statement, contending that it was not obtained voluntarily and was made without the presence of counsel, contrary to legal requirements.

However, Justice Dipeolu adjourned further hearing to August 19 for continuation of the trial.

The EFCC alleged that on July 22, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, the defendant falsely declared the sum of $4,000 while in possession of $14,567; failed to declare CA$40; and falsely declared £1,000 while in possession of £1,030.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offences committed contravened Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Metro

Two Varsity Students Die In Bayelsa Road Crash

Published

17 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

A head-on collision between a truck and a commercial tricycle on the Yenagoa/Amassoma Road, Bayelsa State, has claimed the lives of two students from Niger Delta University, Amassoma.

The accident which occurred on Wednesday also left other passengers of the ill-fated tricycle critically injured.

Residents attributed the accident to absence of road signs and overspending by drivers as the crash occurred at a bend on the road.

The truck negotiated the bend at high speed, lost control and hit the tricycle at top speed, crushing it.

A trader, Godspower Okilo told The PUNCH on Thursday that the truck driver was moving too fast, and by the time he realised the danger, it was already too late.

He said, “The Keke (tricycle) had no chance of escaping the danger because the tipper was already close to it.
“We’ve been complaining about reckless truck drivers on this road for years, but nothing changes.

“The dangerous impact left the tricycle damaged beyond recognition. Good Samaritans rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the wreckage and transporting the injured to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.

“The bodies of the deceased were later evacuated to a nearby morgue.

“This incident has renewed calls for stricter traffic enforcement, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the State Police Command should intensify patrols, introduce speed breakers, and conduct regular safety checks on heavy-duty vehicles.”

Another resident of the area, Mrs. Ebike Ekain, said if the appropriate authorities do not act now, more lives will be lost to accidents in the nearest future.

The Yenagoa/Amassoma Road is without doubt the most dangerous road in Bayelsa State due to the number of accidents that occur every year.
The reconstruction of the stretch from the Etegwe Roundabout to Tombia Community resulted in several turns which motorists do not consider as they often drive at dangerous speeds.

The Federal Road Safety Commission usually dispatches an ambulance to the road which is stationed at Tombia Community and sometimes at the roundabout leading to Agudama-Ekpetiama Community.

Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Muhammad, who confirmed the accident, said investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the accident.

“Yes, an accident happened there and we are investigating the causes of the accident,” he stated.

Metro

OAU Medical Student Kills Self After Failing Exam Twice

Published

17 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has confirmed the death of a part-two medical student, Ajibola Ibitayo, who reportedly committed suicide.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, on Thursday, stated that the student with the matriculation number: DEN/2021/023), committed suicide after failing his examinations.

Olarewaju said the results of examinations were released on Wednesday and it would have required Ibitayo to repeat Part Two for the second time.

“The entire community of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of a Part Two student of the Faculty of Dentistry.

“The student, identified as Ajibola Ibitayo (Matriculation Number: DEN/2021/023), committed suicide after learning that the results of the last semester examinations, released yesterday, would require him to repeat Part Two for another academic year.

“He had already been repeating Part Two during the last session.

“The student, whose father is a medical doctor, reportedly injected himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State,” the statement read partly.

Saddened by the development, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appealed to parents and guardians to instil in their children and wards the understanding that temporary setbacks in the pursuit of success are part of life and not the end of it.

Bamire also urged students and young people to view failure as an opportunity to redirect their paths toward success and greater achievements.

He prayed that God Almighty would grant the parents, family, Faculty, College of Health Sciences, and the University community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.