- By Safiu Kehinde and Halimah Olamide
More facts are emerging over the circumstances that led to the death sentence handed on to one Segun Olowookere, whose parents Mr and Mrs Olowookere have gone viral alleging injustice.
Videos of the couple had gone viral in the last 48 hours with his father and mother alleging that their only son was sentenced to death by hanging over theft of fowl and eggs in a farm.
The mention of fowl and eggs as the objects of theft have drawn the anger of many Nigerians with allegations of judicial high handedness being levelled.
However, findings about the case by the NPO Reports revealed that the judgement was delivered by a former judge of the state, Justice Jide Falola in the Ikirun Division of the state judiciary in 2014.
According to findings by the NPO Reports, Olowookere and some members of a gang had constituted themselves into a cult of robbers robbing defenceless residents in remote areas with weapons.
It was gathered that inc the particular robbery expedition that landed them in trouble, the gang members had allegedly robbed a house only to be confronted by a policeman who was living in the house.
The policeman, according findings, had disarmed them of the gun.
However another account by a notable personality in Oyan town who pleaded not to be named said that Segun Olowookere was never arrested at the scene of any robbery.
She said he was arrested near the palace of Oloyan of Oyan while playing table tennis with some friends.
“When they wanted to arrest him, people even told him to run away but he insisted since he had not committed any crime, he stayed until policemen arrested him. The then DPO (Divisional Police Officer) at the time demanded for a sum of N30,000 to prevent him being tried for robbery. The parents were only able to get N20,000. Before people knew it, they had been transferred to the state CID in Osogbo where they were paraded with guns and cutlasses displayed in front of them,” she said
Amidst the growing condemnations over the matter, Justice Falola who handled the case at the time, according to findings by this publication, was said to have thrown some light on the matter in a Whatsapp group chat on Tuesday.
His comment said to have been posted among the group members seen by the NPO Reports is as follows:
I appreciate your brilliant analysis, as well as sober reflection of the issues, by some commentators. A reasonable commentator ought to show concern about what the other side would say.
To those that care to know, especially your good self and Dr Adekiigbe, this is the story; contrary to the skewed story of the bloggers that are bent on achieving ulterior motive outside the law, in favour of the convict.
I tried the convict and sentenced him to death. The State Counsel that prosecuted the case before me is now a Judge at Federal level. That should tell you something, abi?
The convict was a member of a notorious gang of robbers, armed with guns and other dangerous, who were going from house to house, especially the houses that were in secluded parts of the towns ( Okuku, Oyan, etc). They robbed so many houses and injured a lot of people. They raided a poultry and shot the owner. All in broad daylight. Along the line, they were caught red handed, fully armed.
At the conclusion of the case, the court convicted them of robbery with fire arms, and sentenced each of them ( not one) to death. That is the law. In the judgement, the court indicated that the defence Counsel ( lawyer to the convicts), should write to the Governor to consider Clemency for them, in their ages and as First Offenders ( non of them is a minor, though). Only the Governor and not the court could do it.
For effect, the judgement was delivered during Governor Aregbesola era, of the convict were wrongly convicted, why didn’t they appeal ever then, or approach the Governor as admonished in the judgement. If it was a simple case of stealing, and that the particular convict is a minor, why has he not explored the constitutional rights of appeal to the Court or the Governor for the past 14 years as they claim? Or rather , what is the outcome of his appeal? Are television stations and blogging part of the avenues laid down by the law in that situation?
What his sympathisers are doing is to appeal to pity, having failed on appeal. There is no sentiment in law. Incidentally, the law does not permit a Judge to defend his actions or decisions in the open; the court speaks only through its judgement.
Thank you.
Further findings by the NPO Reports showed that the state counsel who prosecuted the matter at the time, Mrs. Adegoke, is now a judge of the Federal High Court.