He was not wrongfully imprisoned – Ogun State Government clears the air on Ogbonna Ogboijonu’s alleged wrongful conviction

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He was not wrongfully imprisoned – Ogun State Government clears the air on Ogbonna Ogboijonu’s alleged wrongful conviction

The Ogun State Government has responded to viral reports alleging that Ogbonna Ogboijonu was wrongly imprisoned for over 26 years simply for purchasing a stolen generator.

In an official press release dated July 9, 2025, the state government dismissed the claims as false, stating that Ogbonna was not only involved in the theft of a generator but also played an active role in a violent armed robbery that led to the death of a security guard.

According to the statement, the incident took place on October 3, 2000, when a gang of robbers attacked an ELF petrol station along Abeokuta-Lagos road. One of the guards, Moses Bankole, was killed on the spot, while the second, Yusuf Akanni, sustained severe injuries. The robbers stole a 10KVA Lister generator during the operation, and Ogbonna — who was reportedly a generator technician — was identified as the person who loosened the generator from its secured position.

The state says Ogbonna was arrested days later after police intercepted a vehicle attempting to smuggle the stolen generator concealed under firewood and water bags. While two of his accomplices fled, Ogbonna was caught and later escaped from custody before being re-arrested. He eventually led police to the buyer of the stolen generator, who also testified against him in court.

The Ogun State High Court convicted Ogbonna of armed robbery in 2003 and sentenced him to death. That sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2021, and he was released this year under the Governor’s prerogative of mercy — a constitutional pardon that does not erase the crime.

The statement stressed that Ogbonna never gave evidence during his trial and did not present any witnesses to support his innocence.

The government concluded by describing the circulating narrative of wrongful imprisonment as a “lie” and said that Ogbonna’s conviction was both lawful and justified.

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