Innocent man sentenced to death, regains freedom 24 years after, narrates how he was wrongly arrested, falsely accused of conspiracy

A blameless man who was condemned to jail – recovered his opportunity subsequent to going through 24 years.

The man distinguished as Olaide Olatunji described how he was wrongly captured, erroneously blamed for trick to submit murder and tossed behind bars after the torment and beatings by the police.

The man who was sentenced to death – portrayed his story to Joint Legal Action Aids after his discharge from jail.

HOW IT STARTED.

I prepared as a picture taker yet, thinking back to the 80s I didn't have enough photography work to support me so I worked with my dad who exchanged cows. My dad was an elderly person so I went along with him and I used to go to the hedge to purchase the creatures. I was hitched with two children… .

That year, as the ideal opportunity for the Ileya Festival moved nearer, we were going to supply a few organizations with dairy cattle so I needed to proceed to get them from Niger state. He recorded every one of the things that I was going to purchase – bovines, rams and goats. I left Lagos on the 30th of May, 1988 to Gwari in Niger state. I needed to go inside the hedge to choose the creatures I needed with the goal that I would get a trailer to pass on them to Lagos.

THE ARREST.

On account of the language hindrance, I required a mediator for the dealings. We were in the shrubbery when some policemen came and inquired as to whether I was a guest. I said truly, I was a guest that I had been going to the town for a long time. The man said they were searching for individuals who kept running into the hedge.

I said I knew nothing about it that I was choosing rams there. At that point they captured me and took me to the police headquarters despite the fact that the translator revealed to them I had been going to the town for quite a while.

The following day, the first of June, they said the case couldn't be taken care of at that station and it was exchanged to the State CID at Niger. From that point they exchanged me to Ilorin in Kwara state. At the same time, I never realized what they were blaming me for. Following seven days, some policemen originated from Lagos, they said they were from the Anti-Terrorsist squad and they passed on me and a few people that were captured with me to Lagos.

I was with N325,000 money which I needed to use to purchase cows at Niger. The cash tailed me up to Ilorin yet when we got to Lagos, I didn't hear anything about the cash once more. The Police men did not give me or my relatives.

Torment , TORTURE AND TRIAL

They took me to Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos. That was the point at which they began giving me hellfire. They hung me, beat and tormented me. That was the day I realized they were blaming me for homicide. They said someone was murdered in Lagos and his vehicle was grabbed and they later found the vehicle around the town where I was in Gwari.

The policemen said the general population fled into the shrubbery that was the reason they were searching for guests around that zone. At the same time I had no clue why I had been captured. The confession booth explanation for my situation document, they composed it themselves and constrained me to sign. After that they exchanged me to Ikoyi Prison and that was the place they continued another round of torment.

I went through right around 9 months there before they indicted me with four other men. I didn't know those men. They charged all of us for trick to kill. My legal advisor instructed me to argue 'Not Guilty' so I did and from that point they took me to Kirikiri Medium Security Prison.

Condemned TO DEATH

After four months, they said we had a case to reply at Apapa Court. Osibodu Jaydis Babajide in the wake of perusing the charges, they returned us to Ikoyi Prisons.The preliminary began in 1989 and it kept running on for a long time.

On February 15, 1995, Justice Da Silva condemned me to death. I told the judge that day, "You have censured me, however God did not denounce me." My Mum, my Dad, my kids and relatives were in the court that day. I was exchanged to the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.

LIFE AS A MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH.

They place me in a denounced cell. It was terrible. They kept 9 of us in a little room. That was the place we scrubbed down, ate, rested, crapped and facilitated ourselves. There were no beds. Who might give us beds? By law, they don't give any sentenced man a chance to turn out. Be that as it may, now and again, they let us out for around one hour in multi day. Life in the jail was unpleasant. There, I scarcely rested. The jail specialists gave us sustenance yet not great nourishment.

In the censured detainees cell, you wouldn't know which day they will call you and simply execute you. In 1996, I can't recollect the date, we were 9 in the cell. They took 8 of them out, they never brought them back. When they call your name that way, you realize what will occur. They executed every one of them.

At that point, when we need to speak with our family or our attorneys, we go to the welfare unit and compose a letter. We should wear our blue uniform and they'll put binds and chains on our legs. Whenever we needed to turn out to welfare, or center or for appearance, they'll put the binds on us. That was until 2002 when we challenged and they halted it.

I have been knowing about what has been occurring in Nigeria. I have been knowing about Boko Haram, of Obasanjo, of Goodluck Jonathan. All the data we have there is continued data, you can't get the accurate data. It is the thing that they state to us that we will accept.

My siblings used to visit me. My folks kicked the bucket when I was in jail and they let me know. I felt terrible however I couldn't do anything. I just implored God not to give me a chance to kick the bucket in jail.

Around the thousand years time, my relatives conveyed a telephone to me at the jail yet it was not affirmed. I needed to sneak it in and we cover up to utilize it. In the event that the jail superintendents get anybody with a telephone, they will send the individual to jail inside jail. Genuine torment.

Spouse AND CHILDREN

As a young lady, if my better half was my sister, I would have even prompted her to wed another person in light of the fact that nobody knew when I was going to turn out. I won't counsel my sister to hang tight for a man who doesn't have any desire for turning out. She has hitched again and I don't feel terrible about it. My kids used to come now and again yet they don't generally know me. Since I am out, they will realize me better.

WHAT KEEP ME GOING.

My greatest consolation there were the Christian siblings. They were great to me. They dealt with us, particularly the catholics. They would not like to know whether you are an icon admirer or whatever, they will simply grasp you. I'm near the congregation now. At the point when God accomplishes something for you, you simply need to offer gratitude to God.

I express gratitude toward God for Pastor Ariyo Popoola. He had been coming to jail for an exceptionally lengthy time-frame. He used to come and converse with us, lecture us, disclose to us this isn't the finish of life and that we could progress toward becoming something in future. Around then, such a large number of legal advisors had hoodwinked my family, gathered cash and just dropped my case.

One day in 2005, he came to me and said he needed to take up my case. At that point, they used to call me Mr. No Hope. I didn't trust him, I said he ought to go. He returned again after certain months and said he needs to take my case. I said "is it by power, I won't give my case to you". Be that as it may, someone supported me revealing to me that afterall, he was not approaching me for cash or anything like that. He acquainted me with Chino Obiagwu, the Executive Director of LEDAP and Kingsley Ughe,the Chief Lawyer of JLAA.

When I met them, the primary thing they said to me was "My companion, we am taking up your case and we are going to win that case. Are you prepared to sign for us?" I said I won't sign with biro, I will utilize thumbprint. At that point they said "I will give you a notice. Try not to call us, don't send anyone to us. Is it accurate to say that you will have tolerance?" I stated, "Is it me that you are conversing with about persistence?"

THE FINAL APPEAL

I didn't have confidence by any stretch of the imagination. Some of the time, when Pastor Popoola came to jail, I would avoid him. The detainees don't go to the Court of Appeal, it is just the attorneys that were speaking to us. He didn't reveal to me anything and I didn't try to inquire. Once in a while they were speaking with my family yet I didn't think anything will occur.

THE CALL TO CHANGE AND GO HOME.

On the fifth of June 2012, they called me to go to the Welfare Unit to get the advancement of my case. I said I wasn't not going there. A few people that were sitting with me said I ought to go yet I said I wasn't going, that they will simply be misleading me. Later I called Pastor Popoola. He said "Egbon" (Big sibling), I said "wetin be dat" (what is it?). He said "o ti sele o" (It has occurred). He said the court of Appeal has released me. I just begun yelling, I didn't have a clue what to do, how to express gratitude toward him. I was extremely cheerful.

MY VIEWS ABOUT POLICE AND THE NIGERIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM.

The police are terrible, they are not working superbly. They are executing blameless individuals. Legal advisors will gather your cash, they won't carry out any responsibility. On the off chance that an individual has gone through 6 years on preliminary and is condemned to 15 years, they won't tally the years spent on preliminary, they will simply begin checking the 15 years from the day of atonement.

Equity was not done for my situation. Equity is for just individuals that are rich and it should be so. Equity should be for all Nigerians. The man who considers himself a judge will see reality and won't tune in. My judge was one-sided towards me and I don't have the foggiest idea why.

Regardless we have individuals moping in that jail. Individuals that have gone through 28, 30, 33 years. The legislature isn't progressing admirably. To what extent will someone be in jail? Which time will he spend an amazing remainder? Give the equity a chance to win.

Individuals are evolving there. Many individuals are getting to be conceived once more. Envision, someone who did not go to class for as long as he can remember will go to elementary school, optional school and go to Open University there. Give the legislature a chance to go to the guide of these poor men. A multi year-old kid is in jail there charged for burglary case.

LOOKING AHEAD.

I will at present go