A Nigerian man has revealed the harrowing ordeal of spending two decades in prison over an accusation of stealing just fifty-three thousand Naira (₦53,000), casting a stark light on profound failures within the country's justice system.
From Family Burial to Police Cell: The Start of a 20-Year Nightmare
The man, who shared his story on a Yoruba programme aired by Agidigbo FM, explained that his nightmare began with a family tragedy. He was informed of his mother's death and travelled to Abeokuta for burial arrangements. After 40 days, as a bricklayer, he was asked to cement the gravesite.
On his way to the site, he stopped near Adatan around a filling station to look for transportation. It was there that police conducted mass arrests. Despite protesting his innocence, he was detained. Officers searched him and found money his family had given him for the burial expenses.
"Other arrested suspects had weeds and illegal substances, but I explained to the police that my money was for burial expenses," he recounted. His explanations fell on deaf ears at the station.
Legal Process Collapses: Ignorance, Delays, and Contradictions
The man described a complete breakdown of due process. He refused to sign a statement claiming the police found ₦21,000 on him, as it was inaccurate. He was then falsely accused of collaborating with three other individuals he had never met to steal the money.
His family, including his wife who was briefly arrested, tried to vouch for him and explain the source of the funds, but the police ignored them. The alleged stolen money was never presented as evidence in court. When the court inquired about it, authorities claimed it had been returned to the owner.
The trial suffered immense delays, stretching for about six years before a verdict. In a final twist of injustice, the presiding judge was transferred from Abeokuta to Sagamu just as the case was concluding. The judge insisted on delivering the judgment himself and sentenced the man and the three others to prison.
Lawyer's Reaction: A Systemic Failure Affecting Thousands
Reacting to the case, legal expert Abubakar Usman stated that this story is not an isolated incident but a symptom of deep systemic flaws. He warned that thousands of Nigerians languish in prisons due to similar injustices.
"This case is not unique. Thousands of Nigerians languish in prison due to ignorance of their constitutional rights and systemic failures in the judiciary," Usman said. He emphasized that proper legal representation, thorough investigation, and timely access to justice could have prevented the two-decade-long incarceration.
Usman highlighted the catastrophic human cost: "This man lost 20 years of his life because the system failed him. The police report was contradictory, the evidence was mishandled, and the court failed to ensure due process."
The lawyer called for urgent judicial reforms, including mechanisms to review long-standing cases, better oversight of police investigations, and enhanced training for judicial officers to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
The man's release finally came on January 1st, via a letter of amnesty, closing a chapter on 20 years lost to a miscarriage of justice that started with a sum of ₦53,000.
