According to Vanguard, Lukman Adeyemi, a Nigerian bricklayer, has been released from prison after serving 24 years for a crime he did not commit. Adeyemi was wrongly accused and convicted of murder in 2000, despite his pleas of innocence. He was sentenced to death and spent nine years in pre-trial detention and 15 years on death row.
Adeyemi's ordeal began when he accompanied his friend, Ismaila Lasisi, to a police station, leading to his arrest and torture by SARS police officers. He was coerced into confessing to a crime he knew nothing about. Despite his efforts to prove his innocence, he was met with skepticism and disbelief.
The Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR), an NGO, intervened on Adeyemi's behalf, uncovering evidence that proved his innocence. The organization's executive director, Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi, identified poor lawyering, police misinformation, and the prosecutors' relentless pursuit of convictions as key factors contributing to wrongful convictions in Nigeria.
With the support of the CJMR, Adeyemi's case was reviewed, and his innocence was recognized. The real perpetrators confessed, leading to his release. Adeyemi and Lasisi are currently undergoing recovery and reintegration at the CJMR Halfway Home.