In a statement that has garnered media attention, the Ogun State Attorney-General, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, has firmly rebutted recent viral claims asserting that Ogbonna Ogbojionu was wrongfully imprisoned for two decades. The Attorney-General clarified that Ogbonna was rightfully convicted for his role in an armed robbery that resulted in the death of a security guard.
Ogbonna was convicted on January 14, 2003, for his involvement in a violent robbery at the ELF petrol station on October 3, 2000, where a gang of armed robbers attacked and overpowered the security personnel. The incident left one guard, Moses Bankole, dead and another, Yusuf Akanni, severely injured. The robbers made off with a 10 KVA Lister generator, which later led to Ogbonna’s arrest.
According to the Attorney-General, Ogbonna was found in possession of the stolen generator days after the robbery, alongside other suspects. Despite the claims that Ogbonna merely bought the generator, Ogungbade stressed that there was no evidence to support this narrative. Instead, he presented a detailed account of the robbery, including confessions made by Ogbonna itself and testimony from multiple witnesses.
“Ogbonna participated in the armed robbery, assisted in transporting the generator under concealment, and even fled lawful detention,” Ogungbade stated. He emphasized that Ogbonna’s conviction was supported by solid evidence, including confessional statements and the testimonies of eleven prosecution witnesses.
The Attorney-General further explained that Ogbonna’s life sentence, converted from a death sentence in June 2021, was granted under the state’s prerogative of mercy—not as an acknowledgment of wrongful imprisonment but rather as the Governor’s discretion based on Ogbonna’s assessed reformation and remorse.
Ogungbade called attention to the implications of labeling Ogbonna as a victim, noting the profound impact of his crime on the victims and their families. He urged the public to consider the memory of Moses Bankole, whose life was lost to Ogbonna’s actions, rather than perpetuating a narrative that undermines the severity of the offense.
“Those who are attempting to present Ogbonna as a victim are doing a disservice to the true victims of his crime,” Ogungbade concluded, asserting that Ogbonna should focus on rebuilding his life through honest means rather than defending baseless claims of innocence.
As this story develops, the Attorney-General’s office remains committed to ensuring justice for the victims and clarity in the legal processes surrounding Ogbonna’s case.