…Recounts Harrowing experiences
…Praises Gov Abiodun For Pardon
…Govs, Amnesty, Monarchs’ Intervention Needed — Evangelist Wole Badejo
Sodiq Mojibola
In a gripping tale of survival and resilience, Johnson Awoleye, once condemned to death for a crime he claims he did not commit, has finally tasted freedom after a harrowing ten years behind bars.
Awoleye, who served as an escort to former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, narrated his ordeal in an exclusive interview with PLATFORM TIMES, detailing the overcrowded and dire conditions of Nigerian prisons.
He said “I was accused unjustly,” Awoleye recounted, “and thrown into a cell meant for 24 people, where over 120 inmates struggled to survive. Illnesses like kidney problems and diabetes were rampant, claiming lives regularly.”
Accompanied by an activist,Evangelist Wole Badejo, known for his advocacy for prison reforms, Awoleye highlighted the urgent need for intervention in the Nigerian prison system.
Badejo emphasised the inhumanity of overcrowded prisons, urging state governors and Amnesty International to accelerate efforts in granting pardons and reducing congestion.
“I have witnessed firsthand the deplorable conditions in Ogun State prisons,” Badejo stated. “This level of dehumanisation cannot be ignored. It’s a mark of a failed state that does not value human lives.”
Reflecting on his own case, Awoleye described the events leading to his imprisonment as a tragic misunderstanding during a confrontation with alleged cultists.
Despite his claims of innocence and witnesses to support his version of events, Awoleye found himself convicted and facing the death penalty.
“I spent ten years praying, hoping, and seeing visions of a day like today,” Awoleye shared.
Narrating the cause of his plight, he said, on the day of the incident, he recalled, a senator was kidnapped during the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The governor gave us orders to rescue the woman.
“It happened in Ilaro. Senator Isabo Anisulowo was kidnapped, and the kidnappers used a motorcycle.
“The governor ordered that no motorcycle must operate after 10:00 p.m.
“We stopped a motorcycle for a stop-and-search. We saw some guys on a bike who were cultists. When we stopped them, we found out they were cultists because they had drunk alcohol and started fighting us and dragging the gun with us seriously. They resisted us, saying we could not seize their motorcycle at 10 o’clock, whereas an order had been given that no motorcycle should enter that place by then.
“One of these cultists came toward me and attempted to hook me. At the end of the day, he started dragging the gun with me to collect it. One of my team members, Ojo Ayodeji, then fired at the guy in the back because he wanted to take the gun.
“After he fired at the guy in the back, the remaining ones scattered and started calling their colleagues, and there were many people that night. From there, Ojo started running away, and I tried to help the guy on the ground by putting him in the car to carry him to the hospital. So I cocked the gun and shot into the air to escape myself.
“They claimed that the bullet I shot is the one I used to kill him. By the time I reached the station, the person was dead. I don’t want to mention the S.O.; he is dead. The S.O. had changed the bullet.
“The area commander then said they should call me and said we should not make this matter noisy, that he would try to cover for me, and that I should say it was when he was trying to drag the gun with me that it occurred.
“So I also fooled myself, listening to him. Whereas, when my colleague shot him, it was at the back, and I just saw the bullet that rested outside. I had three witnesses on this issue that day, but they did not come to court to testify. They now say I’m the one who killed him. Those people who said they were going to assist me did not assist me again.
“Through the efforts of activists and the recent pardon granted by Governor Dapo Abiodun, I have been given a second chance at life.”
Governor Abiodun’s recent decision to commute the death sentences of 45 prisoners and grant pardon to 41 others was hailed as a significant step towards justice and mercy.
Speaking at the Democracy Day celebrations in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun stressed the importance of upholding democratic values through mercy and compassion.
“Today marks a new chapter of forgiveness and inclusivity in Ogun State,” Governor Abiodun announced.
“We are committed to ensuring that justice is tempered with mercy, providing opportunities for redemption to those who deserve it.”
In his gratitude, Awoleye acknowledged the role of Governor Abiodun and past leaders like Rotimi Akeredolu in their efforts towards prison reform and granting clemency.
“I commend Governor Abiodun for his compassion and understanding,” Awoleye remarked. “His actions give hope not just to me, but to many others who languish in prisons unjustly.”
“I hope my story serves as a beacon of hope and a call to action,” Awoleye concluded. “No one should endure what I have faced. Let us work together to ensure that justice and humanity prevail.”
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