Osun teenage death sentence: Ex-Attorney General debunks fowl-stealing narrative

–Cautions against unconstitutional investigations

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Former Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo (SAN), has described as “a pure lie and cheap blackmail” that Segun Olowookere was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing a fowl.

Adebayo, in a statement personally signed said the fowl stealing narrative was packaged with a view to securing freedom for the prisoner through the backdoor.

While noting that the Governor or President has the right to grant pardon to any convict as same is a constitutional provision, however cautioned Governor Ademola Adeleke against unconstitutional investigations.

The statement reads: “Governments at all levels and the general public should not allow bloggers and internet idlers to mislead them to unnecessarily harass, vilify and attack the judiciary through dissemination of half truths and outright lies.

“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.

“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.

“It must be made clear that I am not disputing the right of any Governor or even the President to grant pardon to any convict as same is a constitutional provision. However, it is 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 forthwith. It is my hope that the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Osun State shall properly advise his principal on this matter.

Justice Jide Falola had convicted Olowookere and Sunday Morakinyo of armed robbery and sentenced them to death by hanging, after finding them guilty of charges involving theft and armed robbery in December 2014.

The duo were said to have been armed with firearms and were reported to have forcefully entered the residence of a police officer, Balogun Tope, attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Okuku, in April 2010 and stole his belongings.