Segun Olowookere, an only child, has recounted his ordeal of being sentenced to death in Osun State for a crime he insists he did not commit. Speaking in an interview with Punch Newspaper, Olowookere, now 30, revealed that he was arrested at the age of 17 for allegedly stealing a fowl.
Olowookere explained that his arrest occurred in November 2010 in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, alongside another individual, Sunday Morakinyo. They were accused of robbing a police officer, Tope Balogun, of two fowls and eggs.
Contrary to reports that he confessed to the crime, Olowookere maintained his innocence, asserting that he never made any statement to the police. He also refuted claims that he lived alone in a six-bedroom apartment, stating, “I lived with my parents until I was arrested.”
In 2013, Olowookere and Morakinyo were arraigned before Justice Jide Falola at the Osun State High Court in Ikirun on charges of robbery and stealing. Both pleaded not guilty. However, on December 17, 2014, Justice Falola convicted them, sentencing them to death for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, life imprisonment for robbery, and three years for stealing.
Olowookere has since continued to protest his innocence, while the other convict, Morakinyo, reportedly developed severe mental health issues due to alleged torture while in police custody.
“Morakinyo is now mentally ill. He bled from his ears, nose, head, and anus after we were tortured by the police and officers of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). He has been in this state since,” Olowookere revealed.
Olowookere described his experiences in detention, where he claimed to clean the blood-stained floors of their cell every day. “Despite his condition, the police offered no treatment. When we were transferred to the SARS cell in Osogbo, his condition worsened. Today, Morakinyo doesn’t recognize anyone,” he said.
In response to the case, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered an investigation and initiated steps to grant Olowookere a pardon. In a statement on his official X account, Governor Adeleke stated:
“I have received the report of a young man reportedly sentenced to death for stealing a fowl. I have directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to investigate the matter and initiate processes for a prerogative of mercy. Osun is a land of justice and equity, and we must ensure fairness.”
Olowookere, who dreams of becoming a doctor, expressed hope for his future. “I want to use my life to help society,” he said.