On Tuesday, news of Segun Olowookere, an only kid, being given a death sentence in Osun State for allegedly stealing chickens shocked Nigerians on social media. There were several accounts of what actually transpired and the reasons why the penalty appeared so severe for such a crime.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Punch correspondent, who has been following the case since Olowookere was detained in 2010, revealed that the person who filed the complaint was a family member of the convict. Olowookere was arrested at the age of 17 for the alleged crime. In an exclusive interview with Sunday Punch, Olowookere shared details about what actually happened and how he ended up with such a severe sentence.
Olowookere was arrested alongside another person, Sunday Morakinyo, in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, in November 2010. They were accused of robbing a policeman, Tope Balogun, who worked at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Okuku. The alleged robbery involved two chickens and some eggs. On January 30, 2013, they were both brought before Justice Jide Falola at the Osun State High Court in Ikirun, where they were charged with robbery and stealing.
The charges stated that Olowookere and Morakinyo conspired in November 2010 to rob a man named Oguntade Faramade of chickens and eggs worth ₦20,000. They were also accused of robbing another person, Balogun Taye, of two mobile phones, and attempting to rob Alhaja Umani Oyewo at her home. Additionally, they were accused of being armed with cutlasses and a Dane gun to rob a woman, Elizabeth Dare, of a gallon of vegetable oil.
Both Olowookere and Morakinyo pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, the police claimed that Olowookere made a confessional statement admitting to the crime. During the trial, the state counsel, Biola Adewemimo, presented six witnesses, including Alhaja Oyewo, Elizabeth Dare, Oguntade Faramade, and three police officers. These witnesses testified against Olowookere and Morakinyo.
Olowookere’s lawyer, Ayo Omolesho, argued that his client was innocent and pointed out that he was not caught at the crime scene. He also claimed that the prosecution failed to provide enough evidence to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Despite the defense, Justice Falola found both Olowookere and Morakinyo guilty. On December 17, 2014, the court sentenced them to death for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, life imprisonment for robbery, and three years in prison for stealing. By the time the judgment was delivered, Olowookere was 21 years old.
However, the judge recommended that the state governor could consider reducing the death sentence to 10 years in prison, taking into account the young age of the convicts.
In the interview with The Punch correspondent, Olowookere narrated how he was arrested in front of his house by some police operatives.
He said, “I was at my father’s shop in Oyan after returning from school. My dad and I were discussing my university admission and suddenly, we heard gunshots, and everybody ran away except my dad and a few others.
My father was taken to a police van where there were some children. I was peeping out and could hear and see what was going on. The police asked my dad where I was and he asked them what my offence was.”
Further talking, he said, “When they couldn’t give him a satisfactory response, my father shouted at the top of his voice that I should run away because the police wanted to arrest me. But I was wondering what my offence was.
So, I came out and went to meet them. I was detained at the police post in Oyan, and was taken to Okuku Divisional Police Headquarters the following day. I met the children who were in the police van when they came for me sitting on the ground and eating rice.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
