A Nigerian man, Olowookore Segun who was sentenced to death in Osun State for stealing fowl and Eggs is an armed robber and not a petty thief, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo has said.
Segun is being considered for amnesty by Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Osun state governor, DAILY GIST reports
According to the lawyer, Segun was sentenced in 2010 along with his friend, Morakinyo Sunday, for stealing from the house of a police officer, Mr Balogun Tope, armed with a cutlass and Dane gun.
Adebayo said in a statement dated December 18, 2024 that the report that the “prisoner was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing a fowl is a pure lie and cheap blackmail that was packaged with a view to secure freedom for the prisoner through a backdoor.”
He said: “I have just read the press release by the Spokesperson to the Governor of Osun State, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
“Governments at all levels and the general public should not allow bloggers and internet idlers to mislead them to unnecessarily harass, villify and attack the judiciary through dissemination of half truths and outright lies.
“The prisoner was a member of a notorious gang of armed robbers that were terrorising the people of Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State before he was arrested, arraigned and tried before the High Court of Osun State where he was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.
“It was very fair trial and there was no appeal against the judgement since same was delivered about 14 years ago,” he said.
Adebayo stressed that it must be made clear that he is “not disputing the right of any Governor or even the President to grant pardon to any convict as same is a constitutional provision.”
He stated that it is however, unconstitutional for any Governor or President to investigate the circumstances under which any judge delivered his judgement and or the reason(s) and or proprietary or otherwise of the judgement.
“The executive lacks such powers . It is a clear usurpation of the powers vested in the judiciary by the Constitution.
“It is always deeply traumatic whenever Judges are being bullied and harassed on the internet for performing their lawful duties, moreso when such attacks are even premised on falsehood and rumours.
“We must avoid exposing our Judges to dangers and risk of being attacked by criminals which can lead to loss of lives.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has unlimited powers to set free the convict in question and any other convicts for that matter without any reason, but that unconstitutional investigation must be stopped fortwith.
“It is my hope that the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Osun State shall properly advise his principal on this matter,” he said
