Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka has opened up about his experiences and observations inside Nigerian prisons, describing them as harsh environments that demand honesty, discipline, and reflection.
Speaking candidly, the actor emphasised that survival in prison requires truthfulness.
According to him, “You don’t lie in prison. You have to be honest. Before your prayer can be accepted, you must confess,” adding, “prison na your mate/ Prison will humble. Somebody you are old enough to father will control you. He will tell you when to eat, when to sleep, when to talk or not to talk, and when to play or when not to play. Prison is nobody’s mate. No matter who you are, if you like, be a minister, prison staff will control you.”
He narrated how prison humbled Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly called Bobrisky, saying that when Bobrisky was thrown into prison, he burst into tears.” It is a place you learn lessons. That was why I made myself inmates’ ambassador,” he added.
Omiyinka recounted a striking incident involving a detainee identified as Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotel and founder of Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, who was transferred from Ilesa to the notorious Kirikiri Prison. Upon arrival, the man reportedly caused a scene, stripping naked and holding onto prison bars while making a dramatic declaration of innocence.
“He said to God, if I have a hand in Timothy’s death or carried out any ritual, all my seven children should die,” Omiyinka narrated, adding that the man was later discovered to be from Ile-Ife.
It will be recalled that Prince Adedoyin was found guilty in the murder case of an ex-Master’s student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke, and was sentenced to death.
According to him, 75 percent of inmates are innocent, adding, “People don’t know what freedom is. At times, we may be locked for a month.”
The Actor Omiyinka touched on his time in prison, revealing that while in prison, he enrolled at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to study Mass Communication at a degree level. “I study Mass Communication in prison.
According to him, while in prison, the government funded his university education.
He highlighted conditions within the correctional system, alleging that inmates are often neglected and that deaths in custody are downplayed.
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