After 24 Years of Wrongful Imprisonment, Bricklayer Shares His Ordeal and Journey to Freedom

 Lukman Adeyemi, a 50-year-old bricklayer, has been released after spending 24 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Adeyemi was just 26 when he accompanied a friend to a police station, only to find himself detained and later convicted.

He endured nine years in pre-trial detention followed by 15 years on death row. His nightmare began when he was tortured into confessing to a crime he had no knowledge of—a murder committed by former acquaintances of his friend, Ismaila Lasisi.

Recounting his harrowing experience, Adeyemi shared, "I was tortured to the point of death over a crime I knew nothing about. My appeals fell on deaf ears, and I felt abandoned by the truth itself."

In June 2023, the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR), led by Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi, took up his case after learning about it from a correctional officer. The organization reviewed the judgments and found contradictions that supported Adeyemi's innocence.

On June 14, 2024, Adeyemi was finally released, a moment he describes as unforgettable. "I am grateful to CJMR for intervening on my behalf, reigniting the flame of justice within me," he said. Adeyemi and Lasisi are currently at the CJMR Halfway Home for recovery and reintegration.

Pastor Olujobi emphasized the importance of their findings, stating, "It's not about their story, it is about the fact that the record corroborated their story.