Ogun AG Debunks Claims: Abia Man Jailed for Robbery, Not Stolen Generator

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Oluwasina Ogungbade, has refuted social media claims suggesting that Ogbonna Ogbojionu, an Abia State native recently freed after 22 years in prison, was wrongly jailed for simply buying a stolen generator.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ogungbade clarified that Ogbonna was convicted for armed robbery and culpable homicide, not the purchase of stolen goods as widely reported online.

Ogbonna’s release had attracted widespread attention, following reports that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State intervened after learning Ogbonna was allegedly sentenced to death for innocently buying a generator. Social media commentary portrayed him as a victim of Nigeria’s flawed justice system.

However, the Ogun AG presented a detailed account of the events, stating that on October 3, 2000, Ogbonna and a gang of armed robbers attacked an ELF petrol station on the Abeokuta–Lagos Road, killed one security guard (Moses Bankole), seriously injured another (Yusuf Akanni), and stole a 10 KVA Lister generator.

“Ogbonna, a generator technician, was the one who loosened the generator. His gang beat the guards with iron rods. One died on the spot,” Ogungbade said.

Escape and Arrest

Ogbonna was later arrested after the generator was discovered in a concealed truck at a police checkpoint. He initially escaped custody, but police investigations led to his rearrest and that of his accomplices. The stolen generator was recovered, and several witnesses, including the buyer of the generator, testified against him.

The Attorney General explained that Ogbonna confessed to the crime during trial and failed to present any evidence or witnesses in his defense.

“If he truly bought the generator, he would have shown a receipt. Instead, he issued a receipt after selling the generator to another party,” the AG noted.

He also questioned the believability of Ogbonna’s claims of being forced to sign a confession, stating that no objections were raised during trial and that his legal strategy was effectively passive.

Death Sentence and Clemency

Ogbonna was sentenced to death in 2003, but in 2021, Governor Dapo Abiodun commuted his sentence to life imprisonment under the prerogative of mercy. His release only came recently after further review.

Warning Against Misplaced Sympathy

The AG criticized the public for mischaracterizing the case, urging Nigerians to remember the real victim—Moses Bankole, who died in the robbery.

“Sanitising Ogbonna’s crime with false narratives does fresh injustice to the victims. If he is truly reformed, he should quietly enjoy his freedom,” Ogungbade said.

He emphasized that the justice system worked on credible evidence, not emotional narratives, and the case should not be distorted for sympathy.