Time to End Wrongful Imprisonment in Nigeria
In 2014, Olanrewaju Oladejo, a bus driver from Lagos working the morning shift, was wrongfully imprisoned for eight years while awaiting trial for a crime that never existed. On that fateful day, he was waiting for his evening shift partner when three men suddenly ran past him, followed closely by members of a national union group who accused him of not stopping the runners. Things escalated quickly. He was being dragged and harassed when some soldiers intervened, but instead of being freed, he was taken to a military barracks, then to a police station and was handed over to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) where he was tortured and forced to confess to a crime he never committed, and finally sent to Kirikiri Correctional Center. He spent eight years behind bars without a trial. His case was initially adjourned for just six weeks, yet he was not brought back to court until eight years later.
Similarly, in October 2018, Samson Udeh was shoved into the back of a police van with claims of being a suspected cultist because he had dreadlocks. He was charged in court with alleged cultism and was given a bail of 5,000 Naira, which he couldn’t afford. He was then remanded in prison for three months without trial, with the police spokesman saying the judge who ruled that Udeh be remanded in prison was responsible, and not the police force. The story of Emmanuel Amakude is yet another painful example of how easily an innocent person can be “swallowed” by the failures of the Nigerian justice system. In 2016, shortly after completing his West African Senior School Certificate Examination, his life changed when a woman claimed that Emmanuel was among those who broke into her shop and stole her goods. He was imprisoned for more than five years, even though he was never found guilty of the crime.
These are just three examples among countless cases of false accusations, prolonged trials, and wrongful detentions that continue to plague Nigeria’s justice system. Wrongful imprisonment is not just unfair, it is painful. This is the situation for countless innocent Nigerians, abandoned by a justice system that was meant to protect them.
What the Statistics Say
Wrongful imprisonments remain a serious human rights crisis in Nigeria, with thousands of individuals detained without trial, conviction, or due process. According to Daily Post, as of 2015, a staggering 72.53% of Nigeria’s prison population consisted of individuals awaiting trial, meaning they had not been formally sentenced for any crime. Nearly a quarter of those pretrial detainees have been held for over a year, according to the Open Society Foundation. This issue has only worsened over the years, as shown by data from October 2021, when Nigerian correctional facilities were operating at 137% capacity, holding 70,056 inmates in prisons designed for just 50,083 people.
The excessive number of unsentenced detainees contributes to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and human rights violations within these facilities. Many inmates are locked up for years without seeing a judge, simply because they cannot afford legal representation or bail. This shows a deep structural failure in Nigeria’s justice system, where slow judicial processes, police brutality, and corruption continue to deny citizens their right to fair treatment under the law.
Why Innocent People End Up Behind Bars
Unlawful imprisonment in Nigeria is driven by a combination of systemic failures, corruption, and social inequality. One major cause is police misconduct, where law enforcement officers profile, arrest, and detain individuals without proper investigation, often targeting youth with certain appearances (e.g., dreadlocks or tattoos) or people in the wrong place at the wrong time. A notable example is the case of Sikuru Alade, who was detained for over nine years without trial. At the age of 30, Sikiru Alade from Lagos State was arrested and detained under a “holding charge”. He was held in custody without formal charges or sufficient evidence throughout his years in detention.
Bribery and corruption also play a huge role, as officers sometimes fabricate charges to extort money or frame innocent people for crimes they didn’t commit. According to Premium Times, numerous petitions and reports repeatedly called for an investigation into the criminal and unlawful activities of the now-disbanded SARS. These allegations included framing innocent people with serious crimes, falsely labelling and publicly calling people out, demanding huge bribes for bail, and the use of torture to punish detainees or coerce false confessions. These reasons were major catalysts for the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.
A striking example is the case of Chinagorom, a businessman in Asaba, Delta State. A Premium Times article tells the story of how he was arrested in June 2014 without being informed of any offence. His wife, nursing a one-month-old baby, was also taken into custody. A police officer known as ‘Pele’ had repeatedly accused Chinagorom of buying a stolen vehicle and demanded a bribe, which he refused to pay. In retaliation, ‘Pele’ orchestrated his arrest, falsely labelling him a kidnapper. Chinagorom’s story serves as one among the many other instances of law enforcement officers fabricating charges against innocent people, exploiting those who lack the means for proper legal defence.
The Lasting Consequences on Victims
Wrongful imprisonment has devastating effects on victims, both mentally and physically. Many victims suffer severe emotional trauma, depression, and anxiety, struggling to fit into society after years of unjust detention. Lost opportunities in education, career, and relationships make rebuilding their lives extremely difficult. At 41, Olarewaju now tries to put the pieces of his pre-detention life together. He is taking steps by going back to his craft and wondering if he will ever recover the lost years. Physically, overcrowded and inhumane prison conditions lead to poor health, malnutrition, and disease. Socially, these victims often face stigma and discrimination, even after being proven innocent. Families of the wrongfully imprisoned also endure financial strain and emotional distress.
Time to Take Action
Despite the sad tales, there is a glimpse of hope in addressing the challenge of wrongful imprisonment in Nigeria. A good example among the many NGOs fighting for this cause is Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), established in 2018 by human rights lawyer Funke Adeoye. HBBA provides pro-bono legal services to indigent pre-trial detainees, the organisation has so far assisted over 7,500 justice-involved individuals. The organisation also advocates for prison reforms and supports the reintegration of formerly incarcerated persons. More organizations need to embrace this mission—there is still a long way to go.
On the governmental front, the Nigerian authorities recently released 29 children detained for over two months, who had faced potential death penalties for alleged involvement in protests against the rising cost of living. But there is more to cover and more justice to be granted. The government needs to step in and fix the judicial system and hold the police accountable. The government also has to properly compensate victims of wrongful imprisonment, to at least give them some relief from the wasted years of suffering.
Citizens also have a role to play—whether it's as simple as sharing their stories on social media, having conversations about injustice, or calling out cases of wrongful arrests to keep the issue in the spotlight. They can also support organisations that fight against wrongful imprisonment by donating, volunteering, or even just spreading awareness to help innocent people get the legal defence they deserve. Ultimately, knowing your rights is important. Many people don’t realise how easily they can be arrested without cause, so educating yourself and others can be a big step. When you see something wrong, report it, sign petitions, and demand change. Small actions add up, and the more people stand up against wrongful imprisonment, the harder it will be for it to continue.
About the Author
Ojo Favour Ebunoluwa is an outstanding storyteller, social issues writer, journalist, and voice-overartist. She is the founder of Voices and Light, an online platform dedicated to sharing authentic, real-life stories of everyday people navigating life’s toughest challenges and emerging stronger.