The Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, responded to viral reports claiming that a recently released convict, Ogbonna Ogbojionu, was wrongfully imprisoned for over two decades for buying a stolen generator.
According to the government, Ogbonna was properly convicted for his involvement in an armed robbery that resulted in the death of a security guard, Moses Bankole.
In a statement released by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, the Ogun State government clarified that Ogbonna was convicted on January 14, 2003, by the Ogun State High Court and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment in June 2021 by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
According to the statement, the court found Ogbonna guilty of participating in an armed robbery at an ELF petrol station, where a gang of robbers stole a 10 KVA Lister generator and killed one of the guards.
It said that the prosecution presented 11 witnesses, and Ogbonna made two confessional statements without objection, choosing not to call any witnesses or present evidence in his defense.
Pointing out that the prerogative is granted entirely at the governor’s discretion, considering the nature of the convict’s offence, the convict’s assessed tendency to reoffend, his ability to reintegrate into society, and the reformation demonstrated, most importantly by his remorse and regret, Ogungbade said that Ogbonna was recently released from prison after his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, having benefited from the governor’s prerogative of mercy to commemorate Democracy Day 2025.
He said: “If, as the viral reports now claim, Segun Ajibade, has truly led a quiet life since his release, it likely suggests genuine remorse for his crimes and his gratitude for his freedom.
” This is the exact opposite of Ogbonna’s intransigence today and could explain why Ogbonna was not considered for release when Segun was.
“Ogbonna’s crime hobbled a business, terrorised Akanni Yusuf, and killed Moses Bankole.
“These victims or their relations remain today and attempts to sanitise Ogbonna’s conduct with falsehoods does fresh injustice to the victims.
“Those who, in a misguided quest for justice, are recreating Ogbonna as a victim will do well to remember Moses Bankole – the true and irredeemable victim of Ogbonna’s crime.
“If Ogbonna is truly reformed, he should silently and gratefully enjoy his freedom and pursue honest pursuits. Presently, his honesty is highly doubtful, and the world is hereby notified.”
