Lukman Adeyemi, a 50-year-old bricklayer, has finally been released after unjustly spending 24 years in prison. His ordeal began when he accompanied his friend, Ismaila Lasisi, to a police station in August 2000, only to be arrested alongside him. Lukman endured nine years in pre-trial detention and another agonizing 15 years on death row. Throughout his imprisonment, he faced severe physical and psychological torture, and was coerced into confessing to crimes he had no knowledge of.
Speaking to Vanguard, Lukman recounted the injustice he suffered: “I am Lukman Adeyemi, from Iwerele, Iwajowa Local Government, Oyo State, and I work as a bricklayer. At 26, I was arrested without cause when I went with Ismaila to the police station. I was tortured mercilessly and accused of a crime I had no involvement in.”
In 2009, Lukman and Ismaila were wrongly sentenced to death. Despite their appeals, which reached the Supreme Court, justice seemed elusive. It wasn’t until July 2023, when the Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR) intervened, that their innocence began to be recognized. Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi and CJMR meticulously reviewed their case, obtaining evidence and testimonies that proved their innocence.
“On June 14, 2024, I finally regained my freedom. It was a momentous day for me, feeling the rain on my head and seeing the moon again after so long,” Lukman shared. He expressed deep gratitude to CJMR for believing in him and working tirelessly for his release. Currently, both Lukman Adeyemi and Ismaila Lasisi are undergoing recovery and reintegration at CJMR Halfway Home, thanks to the efforts of Pastor Olujobi and the CJMR team.
The story of Lukman Adeyemi highlights the critical importance of organizations like CJMR in pursuing justice and overturning wrongful convictions, offering hope and redemption to those unjustly imprisoned.