In a detailed statement released on Wednesday, Ogungbade clarified that Ogbonna was lawfully convicted for his direct involvement in an armed robbery and murder that occurred on 3 October 2000 at an ELF petrol station along the Abeokuta-Lagos Road.
According to the Attorney General, Ogbonna was not only part of the gang that committed the robbery but also played a critical role in the theft of a 10KVA Lister generator. The gang assaulted two security guards during the attack—Yusuf Akanni and Moses Bankole.
While both were brutally struck with iron rods and tied up, Bankole sadly died at the scene from the injuries sustained.
“Ogbonna was the technician who loosened and removed the generator,” Ogungbade explained, stating that Ogbonna’s technical expertise was essential to the success of the operation.
He further recounted that the stolen generator was later discovered in a vehicle concealed beneath firewood and sachet water at a police checkpoint, where Ogbonna and two others were present but could not provide proof of ownership.
The police intercepted the vehicle, but while the driver and another suspect fled, Ogbonna was arrested. However, he escaped from police custody overnight, only to be rearrested weeks later through coordinated efforts involving other suspects and awitness who had bought the stolen generator from him.
The AG noted that during his trial, Ogbonna confessed to the crime and failed to produce any witnesses or evidence in his defence. “He made no attempt to dispute the confession or offer an alternative account,” Ogungbade stated, emphasising that the conviction was not based on mere suspicion, but on strong evidence and eyewitness testimonies, including the recovering of the stolen generator.
Contrary to widespread social media reports that portrayed Ogbonna as a victim of judicial injustice, Ogungbade insisted that there was no evidence Ogbonna ever bought the generator, much less innocently. He dismissed claims that Ogbonna was tortured into confessing, noting that there were no formal objections to the confession during trial and no attempt to contest its validity.
Ogungbade went further to highlight that in 2021, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, commuted Ogbonna’s death sentence to life imprisonment under the prerogative of mercy. The intervention of Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, subsequently facilitated his release.
“Let us not forget the real victims,” Ogungbade appealed. “This crime cost a man his life, traumatised another, and crippled a business. It is an injustice to erase that reality by circulating false narratives.”
He concluded by urging the public to be cautious of sensational social media reports and to respect the pain of the victims’ families. He added that if Ogbonna has indeed turned a new leaf, he should embrace his freedom with humility and pursue a reformed path.
