After 25 Years of Injustice, Nigerian Generator Repairer Walks Free From Death Row Over Stolen Tiger Generator [VIDEO]

 

For Kolawole Oladeji, freedom was a long and painful journey that spanned over two decades behind bars. On October 30, 1999, the Nigerian man’s life changed forever when he was arrested for a crime that has since sparked national outrage. The case, centered around a stolen generator, led to a death sentence that kept him locked in prison for more than 20 years. His story is one of perseverance, broken justice, and eventual release, driven by public advocacy and a social media campaign that reached the highest levels of attention.

Kolawole, a generator repairer by trade, was apprehended after a generator allegedly stolen by someone else was brought to his workshop for repairs. Despite his consistent claims of innocence, he was lumped into the case alongside three others. The court, relying on what many now consider questionable judgment, sentenced him to death by hanging on January 14, 2003.

His co-accused included Ogbona Igbojionu, who also spent over 20 years in prison before finally being released alongside Kolawole. According to Kolawole, the individual identified as the real thief, Segun Ajibade, was set free in 2016 by then-Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Yet, Kolawole and Ogbona remained imprisoned, condemned to die for a crime they insisted they never committed.

Their fight for justice was mostly silent until the case reached the digital world. TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, popularly known as Seaking, brought massive attention to Kolawole's plight through emotional and compelling content. With each video, Seaking pushed the story further into public view, gaining traction among concerned Nigerians and eventually catching the attention of key decision-makers.

Public sympathy began to mount as more details of the case came to light. Many were left stunned that a man could spend so many years behind bars due to a generator that was not stolen by him, but only brought to him for repair. Legal experts, activists, and human rights organizations started raising questions about how such a gross miscarriage of justice could have been allowed to persist for this long.

Kolawole’s story took another heartbreaking turn in 2018 when his appeal to the Court of Appeal in Ibadan was dismissed. His lawyer had inexplicably withdrawn the case, leaving him without legal options. Desperation pushed Kolawole to act on his own. In November 2020, he penned a heartfelt petition to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, pleading for clemency. He asked for mercy, expressing his desire to reunite with his family and reclaim what remained of his life.

That petition remained unanswered for a while, but the pressure from the public and advocacy from Seaking seemed to have made the difference. Recently, the long-awaited freedom became a reality. Kolawole and his co-defendant were finally released, bringing a bittersweet end to a dark chapter of their lives.

Kolawole walked out of prison not with bitterness, but with hope. He described himself simply as a man who fixed generators for a living and ended up losing the most productive years of his life due to a broken system. "I have been in jail since 1999 for a crime I did not commit," he told reporters with weary eyes and a subdued tone. “I am a generator repairer, that is all I ever was.”

The case has stirred conversations about Nigeria’s criminal justice system, especially around prolonged detentions, lack of timely trials, and the dangers of wrongful convictions. Rights activists argue that without the power of social media and digital advocacy, Kolawole might have remained forgotten behind bars or worse, executed.

His release not only restores a man's physical freedom but also shines a light on the lives still trapped in similar legal nightmares. Kolawole may be free, but his story serves as a haunting reminder of how flawed justice can derail innocent lives unless closely watched and actively challenged. As he attempts to rebuild, public calls continue to echo for deeper reforms in Nigeria’s judiciary and correctional systems.

For Kolawole Oladeji, freedom came late, but not too late to speak out and advocate for others like him.

“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