Abuja, Nigeria — Mike Oluwole, the former employer of 26-year-old Abuja-based photographer Nicholas Peter, has broken his silence regarding the photographer’s 10-month detention at Keffi Correctional Centre. In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online on Monday, Oluwole defended his actions, citing alleged misconduct, theft, and defamation by his former staff member as the reasons behind Peter’s arrest.
Oluwole explained that the situation began when Nicholas approached him to sell a camera lens, which Oluwole later discovered was stolen. Despite Nicholas’s claim that the lens belonged to a bedridden friend in urgent need of funds, Oluwole grew suspicious and confronted him. After verifying Nicholas’s photography skills through a series of tests, Oluwole employed him on a probationary basis with a monthly salary of N70,000.
However, according to Oluwole, problems quickly arose. “Nicholas was always demanding and defaulting on our company’s ‘I owe you (IOU)’ scheme, which was designed to help staff manage their financial burdens until payday,” Oluwole recounted. He also accused Nicholas of improper conduct when he resigned via text message, which Oluwole found unprofessional.
The situation escalated when Oluwole discovered that an office phone had gone missing shortly after Nicholas’s resignation. CCTV footage revealed that Nicholas had returned to the office, disconnected the camera, and reconnected it as he left. Oluwole reported the incident to the police, leading to Nicholas’s arrest.
Nicholas was questioned by authorities about the missing phone before his case was transferred to court. Oluwole stated that Nicholas eventually confessed to stealing the phone, but by that time, it was too late to halt the prosecution. Despite the mounting pressure for Nicholas’s release, Oluwole claimed he attempted to withdraw the case by writing to the Upper Area Court in Mpape, Abuja, but the request was denied.
Oluwole expressed frustration over the backlash he faced after a tweet about Nicholas’s detention went viral. The tweet, posted by Funke Adeoye, founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, portrayed Nicholas as a victim of unjust detention, sparking public outrage. Oluwole accused Adeoye and her foundation of using the situation to solicit funds, a claim she denied.
Adeoye, responding to Oluwole’s accusations, clarified that her foundation’s mission is to provide free legal services to indigent inmates who cannot afford representation or fines. She explained that Nicholas’s case was brought to her attention by a sister organization, Yiaga Africa, and that her team had confirmed the details of his detention before taking action.
“We were informed that Nicholas had been in Keffi Correctional Centre for 10 months for ‘intentional insult’ because he couldn’t pay the required fines,” Adeoye said. She added that her team managed to secure a donation of N50,000, which was used to facilitate Nicholas’s release.
Adeoye also refuted the notion that her actions were intended to harm Oluwole’s reputation or business. “The tweet was harmless, and I’m ready to defend it at any time,” she asserted.
Nicholas’s ordeal has since drawn widespread attention, with many expressing concern over the circumstances surrounding his arrest and prolonged detention. The controversy highlights broader issues within Nigeria’s criminal justice system, particularly regarding the treatment of low-income individuals who find themselves entangled in legal disputes.
PUNCH had previously reported Nicholas’s account of his experiences in prison, which he described as tumultuous, following his resignation from Oluwole’s company. The case continues to generate debate on social media and among legal advocacy groups.
