“I felt abandoned by truth itself” — Innocent man shares 24-years prison ordeal

Prison is never an enticing place for the guilty let alone an innocent man, and after spending 24 harrowing years for a crime he did not commit, Lukman Adeyemi felt abandoned by the truth.

After spending 24 harrowing years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Lukman Adeyemi, a 50-year-old innocent bricklayer, has been set free and is now sharing his story of torment and resilience.

Adeyemi’s nightmare began when he was just 26 years old, accompanying a friend to the police station in an act of loyalty that would change his life forever.

In August 2000, Adeyemi and his friend Ismaila Lasisi went to the police station after Lasisi was asked to report there. During interrogations by SARS Police officers, Adeyemi was detained and subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, leading to coerced confessions for crimes he had no knowledge of.

“I was tortured to the point of death over a crime I knew nothing about,” Adeyemi recounted.

He was wrongfully charged with the murder of a woman who had been hired by former acquaintances of Lasisi. Despite his innocence, Adeyemi endured nine years in pre-trial detention and another 15 years on death row.

In 2009, both Adeyemi and Lasisi were sentenced to death. Their appeals were unsuccessful, leaving Adeyemi feeling abandoned by the justice system.

“I felt abandoned by truth itself,” he said. “I spent 24 years behind bars like 24 hours, a sleepless night that lasted for two decades.”

The turning point came in June 2023 when Deputy Superintendent of Correctional (DSC) AbdulKareem Awesu introduced Adeyemi’s case to Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi of the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR). The organization investigated and found significant evidence of Adeyemi’s innocence.

On June 14, 2024, the innocent bricklayer was finally released, a moment he describes as unforgettable. “Light shone upon me, rain fell on my head for the first time and I saw the moon for the first time,” he said. Adeyemi expressed immense gratitude to the CJMR for their relentless efforts to prove his innocence and secure his freedom.

Pastor Olujobi, Executive Director of CJMR, explained how they took up Adeyemi’s case.

“We came down to Ibara Custodial Centre to hear from them. The two perpetrators confided in us that truly, they were the ones who committed the crime and that the two people were totally innocent,” he said.

Their findings were forwarded to the Attorney-General of Ogun State, leading to Adeyemi’s release.

Currently, Adeyemi and Lasisi are at the CJMR Halfway Home, undergoing a recovery and reintegration process. Adeyemi’s story is a poignant reminder of the importance of justice and the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions.