Former Boss Defends Actions Against Photographer Detained for 10 Months, Sparks Controversy....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Mike Oluwole, the former employer of 26-year-old photographer Nicholas Peter, has publicly addressed Nicholas’s ten-month detention at Keffi Correctional Centre, asserting that the arrest was justified due to allegations of mismanagement, theft, and defamation. In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online on Monday, Oluwole detailed the circumstances surrounding Nicholas’s arrest, claiming that he attempted to sell a stolen camera lens.

According to Oluwole, Nicholas approached him to sell a camera lens, which later turned out to be stolen. Despite Nicholas’s initial claim that the lens belonged to a bedridden friend in need of urgent funds, Oluwole confronted him about its ownership. “I made him sign that he sold it to me. I then told him how much I needed a good photographer and photo editor, and he showed interest,” Oluwole recounted.

After passing several photography tests, Nicholas was hired on probation with a monthly salary of N70,000. Oluwole alleged that Nicholas frequently defaulted on the company’s financial assistance scheme, known as “I owe you (IOU),” which was designed to help staff manage financial burdens. After Nicholas resigned via text message, Oluwole discovered that an office phone was missing. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Nicholas disconnecting the camera before leaving the office.

Following these events, Oluwole reported Nicholas to the police, resulting in his arrest. He emphasized that Nicholas was questioned for days regarding the missing phone and ultimately confessed to stealing it, although the prosecution had already begun by that time. “When the pressure for his release was mounting, I wrote to the Upper Area Court, Mpape in Abuja, to stop the case, but my letter was rejected,” Oluwole said.

Oluwole also explained that he was initially informed that the bail fee was N20,000, which he paid through an intermediary. However, Nicholas later claimed the fee was actually N50,000, leading Oluwole to withdraw his support for the release. He noted that he still hoped to help Nicholas if he demonstrated a change in behavior.

In response to the viral social media post concerning Nicholas’s detention, Oluwole expressed shock and disappointment. He stated that the individual who tweeted about the situation did not seek his perspective before making disparaging claims about him and his business.

Funke Adeoye, founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, who recently tweeted about Nicholas’s plight, responded by clarifying her organization’s mission. She emphasized that her team provides free legal services to those who cannot afford representation, as well as assistance with bail payments for minor offenses. Adeoye explained that she was touched by Nicholas’s situation, which was brought to her attention by a colleague from Yiaga Africa.

“Someone anonymously contributed N50,000 for his bail. My colleague facilitated his release and provided him with some support afterward,” Adeoye stated. She dismissed rumors that her organization had profited from Nicholas’s case, asserting that their focus was solely on helping him.