The Osun State High Court has said that Olowookere Segun who was recently pardoned of death sentence by Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, was not sentenced to death by Justice S.O Falola of the state high court for stealing fowl as widely reported.
Olowookere was sentenced to death on December 17, 2014 by Justice Falola of the Osun State High Court, Ikirun Judicial Division, awaiting execution.
However, in an interview granted by the parents of Olowookere, they begged the governor to pardon their son claiming he was sentenced to death for stealing a fowl.
The governor who read the interview and was moved with emotion ordered an investigation into his case and subsequently pardoned him.
Following negative reactions from the public condemning the judge for sentencing the convict to death for ‘mere offence’ of stealing fowl, the Osun State judiciary has reacted to the story by dismissing the report that Olowookere was sentenced to death for stealing fowl.
While reacting in a statement dated December 20 titled “Setting the Record Straight” and signed by its Chief Registrar, Omisade F.I, the court described the claims as baseless intended to malign the judiciary and its officials.
The statement stated that the report was “mischievous and misleading.” and explained why Olowookere was sentenced to death.
“Our attention has been drawn to the news making the rounds about a young man, Olowookere Segun, who was sentenced to death on 17th December 2014 by an Osun State High Court, Ikirun Judicial Division presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice S.O. Falola.
The facts of the case have been distorted and maliciously misrepresented to the generality of the people. What has been laid before the public domain is that this boy was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing one fowl,” the statement stated.
Clarifying the issue, the statement further stated that Olowookere along with his accomplice, Morakinyo were arrested for robbery at a poultry farm and lethal weapons were found on them.
It explained that in any case of armed robbery, the law mandated a death sentence to be passed on an armed robber if proven that the accused was found with a dangerous weapon.
The statement further clarified that Olowookere Segun and his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested in April 2010 for a series of armed robberies, including an armed robbery at a poultry farm in Oyan town of Osun State and also confessed to their crimes.
“They were charged before the High Court of Justice, Ikirun Judicial Division. After a full trial which lasted from 11th February 2013 to 17th December 2014, they were found guilty and convicted of armed robbery,” the statement stated.
On the report that Olowookere was 17 years old at the time of his sentence, the statement dismissed the report claiming the convict was 19 years old and Morakinyo Sunday, was 18 years old.
The statement stated that Olowookere’s case was ‘ blown out of proportion’ and further described it as ‘nauseating falsehood.’
On the pardon granted by the governor, the court through the statement commended Justice Falola for recommending clemency for Olowookere in his judgement which paved the way for the governor to grant him pardon after spending 10-years on death row.
It therefore urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation and to respect the judiciary’s integrity adding it would not tolerate attempts to disparage the judiciary and its officials.
