a major story that has been swirling around social media about Ogbonna Ogbojionu’s release from prison just got a huge, official clarification! The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Oluwasina Ogungbade, has stepped forward to set the record straight, debunking widespread social media claims.
Can you feel that sense of firm correction? This isn’t just a minor detail; it’s a crucial distinction that completely changes the narrative of why Ogbonna Ogbojionu spent 22 years behind bars. It turns out, his incarceration was for something far more serious than just buying a stolen generator!
The Viral Narrative vs. The Official Truth
Ogbonna Ogbojionu recently became an internet sensation. His story went viral, captivating millions with the narrative of how he regained freedom after 22 years of incarceration, reportedly following the intervention of the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti. According to multiple social media reports, the widespread claim was that Ogbonna was sentenced to death simply for allegedly buying a stolen generator. This narrative, as you can imagine, drew massive condemnation of the Nigerian justice system, sparking outrage and calls for reform.
These reports often claimed that Ogbonna himself disclosed that, at the time of his arrest in 1999, he was forced to write a statement he didn’t understand, then prosecuted and sentenced to death. It painted a picture of a man unjustly imprisoned for a minor offense.
The AG’s Revelation: Robbery, Murder, and a Broken Femur
However, Attorney General Oluwasina Ogungbade has firmly reacted to these claims, describing them as false. In a statement he signed on Wednesday, Ogungbade asserted, with authority, that Ogbonna was lawfully and rightly convicted for the crime he committed. This is a direct challenge to the popular social media narrative.
The AG then proceeded to narrate the chilling series of events that led to the death sentence conviction, providing details that had been largely absent from the viral accounts. Get ready for the shocking truth:
- The Robbery: On October 3, 2000, at about 10 pm, a gang of armed robbers attacked the ELF petrol station along Abeokuta-Lagos road. Their target? A 10 KVA Lister generator.
- Overpowered Guards: The armed robbers didn’t just steal; they first overpowered and detained the two guards at the fuel station.
- Brutal Violence: This is where it gets truly horrific. “They hit one guard – Yusuf Akanni – with an iron rod on his head and his leg, breaking his femur,” Ogungbade disclosed. And the second guard, Moses Bankole, was also “hit on the head with an iron rod as well, then they bound both guards.”
- Murder: The most devastating detail: “Moses Bankole died on the spot, while bound,” the AG confirmed. This means Ogbonna Ogbojionu was implicated in a murder, not just a theft.
- Ogbonna’s Role: Ogungbade further clarified Ogbonna’s specific involvement: “Ogbonna was a generator technician, so he was the robber who specifically loosened the generator from where it was secured in the ELF filling station.” This paints him as an active participant in the robbery, utilizing his technical skill for the crime.
The AG continued, detailing how some days later, at about 2:30 am, a police team intercepted a vehicle at the Toll Gate area. This vehicle was cunningly loaded with firewood and pure water bags, but upon a search, the police discovered it was used to conceal the very same generator that was stolen earlier. When the driver, Ogbonna, and one Kolawole Oladeji (whose own story of release for a generator case also went viral) were confronted, they could not provide evidence of ownership of the generator.
Setting the Record Straight: The Importance of Facts
This detailed clarification from the Ogun State Attorney General is incredibly important. It highlights the dangers of misinformation and the need to verify facts, especially when emotionally charged stories go viral on social media. While the Nigerian justice system certainly faces its challenges, and cases of wrongful incarceration do occur, it’s crucial to distinguish between genuine injustice and narratives that may be incomplete or misleading.
The AG’s statement aims to correct the public record, emphasizing that Ogbonna Ogbojionu’s conviction was for a serious armed robbery that resulted in murder, not simply for buying a stolen generator. This doesn’t diminish the length of his incarceration but provides a much clearer, albeit grim, picture of the crimes he was convicted for. It’s a powerful reminder that while we champion justice and reform, we must also rely on verified facts and official accounts to truly understand the complexities of legal cases.
