On Tuesday, Nigerians were shocked by reports about Segun Olowookere, an only child from Osun State, who was sentenced to death for allegedly stealing fowls.

Various versions of the story emerged, sparking widespread disbelief over what many considered an excessive punishment for such an offense.

Our correspondent, who has been following the case, reports that Olowookere was detained in 2010.

The complainant in the case was actually a family member of Olowookere. He was arrested when he was just 17 years old, at the time the crime was said to have occurred.

In an exclusive interview, Olowookere provided a detailed account of the circumstances leading to his sentencing.

The Facts:

Olowookere, along with another man, Sunday Morakinyo, was arrested in November 2010 in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State.

They were accused of robbing a policeman, Tope Balogun, of two fowls and eggs.

The two were charged in January 2013 for robbery and stealing before Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court in Ikirun.

Olowookere and Morakinyo were accused of conspiring to rob Oguntade Faramade of his fowls and eggs worth N20,000.

They were also said to have robbed Balogun Taye of his two mobile phones and attempted another robbery at the home of Alhaja Umani Oyewo.

The charge sheet mentioned that they were armed with cutlasses and a Dane gun, intending to rob one Elizabeth Dare of a gallon of vegetable oil.

Although both men pleaded not guilty to the charges, Olowookere later confessed to the police, admitting his involvement in the crime.

Six witnesses, including the victims and three policemen, testified against them.

Olowookere’s defense lawyer, Ayo Omolesho, argued that his client was innocent, as he was not arrested at the scene of the crime and that the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

However, Justice Falola found both men guilty, sentencing them to death for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, life imprisonment for robbery, and three years for stealing on December 17, 2014.

By that time, Olowookere was 21 years old. The judge also recommended that the state governor might decide to commute the death sentence to 10 years in light of the convicts’ young age.

Olowookere’s Account:

Olowookere, who is currently on death row, explained that he would have been released earlier if his family could have met the N30,000 bail demanded by the police.

He recalled, “I was at my father’s shop in Oyan after returning from school. My dad and I were discussing my university admission when we suddenly heard gunshots. Everybody ran, but my father and a few others stayed behind. My father was taken to a police van, and I was told to run, but I didn’t know why. I went to meet them and was detained.”

He continued, “When I got to the police station, they told me that one of the children arrested had mentioned me as their gang leader. They accused me of stealing two broilers and crates of eggs. But I denied it, as I only knew these children in the community, and I had nothing to do with them.”

Olowookere described how he and Morakinyo were tortured in police custody. He said, “We were tortured from the first day we arrived at Okuku Police Station. The children who allegedly committed the crime weren’t beaten, but we were.”

He also recalled the experience of being denied bail when his father could only raise N20,000 instead of the N30,000 demanded by the police. “The police refused to accept the N20,000 and moved us to the SARS office in Osogbo before my father could return,” Olowookere explained.

Betrayal by Family:

Olowookere revealed that the poultry farm from which the fowls were reportedly stolen belonged to his uncle.

Despite initially stating that Olowookere had no involvement in the theft, his uncle later testified against him in court.

Olowookere denied making any confessional statement to the police, saying, “I never wrote any statement to the police. My parents never had a flat, not to mention a six-bedroom flat. I lived with my parents until I was arrested.”

He also mentioned that his co-convict, Morakinyo, suffered severe physical abuse while in detention and developed mental health issues.

“Morakinyo bled from different parts of his body due to the torture. He became mentally ill, and I had to take care of him in prison,” Olowookere said.

Governor Adeleke’s Intervention:

In light of Olowookere’s case, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke intervened, directing the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, to investigate the case and initiate the process for a pardon.

Adeleke posted on his X account, “I have received the report of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun State for stealing a fowl. I have directed the Attorney General to commence a full investigation and initiate processes to grant a prerogative of mercy.”

Controversy Surrounding the Case:

Despite Adeleke’s intervention, there has been significant debate over the fairness of Olowookere’s conviction.

A former Attorney General in Oyo State, Mutalubi Adebayo, cautioned the governor, claiming that Olowookere was part of a notorious armed robbery gang and had been fairly tried.

“The convict was a member of a notorious gang of armed robbers,” Adebayo stated, warning against actions that could undermine the judicial system.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also criticized the death sentence, calling it illegal due to Olowookere’s age at the time of the crime.

“The trial, conviction, and death sentence were illegal,” Falana stated. He emphasized that the case should have been heard by the Osun State Family Court because Olowookere was a minor when the offense was committed.

Lingering Appeal and Financial Constraints:

The appeal of Olowookere’s case has been pending for over a decade at the Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, with financial constraints being a major factor in the delay.

Despite the involvement of multiple lawyers, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria has yet to appear at the appellate court.

Olowookere continues to hold onto hope of proving his innocence one day. “I believe I will be free one day and will study medicine,” he said, adding, “I’m not a criminal; I have never stolen anything in my life.”

The Kaduna division of the Court of Appeal has ruled that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) lacks the constitutional authority to confiscate imported rice from open markets.

This ruling came after the NCS appealed a judgment by the Federal High Court in Kaduna, which had discharged and acquitted Suleiman Mohammed, a businessman charged with the importation of foreign goods.

In a judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Ntong Ntong, the court also ordered the release of 613 bags of foreign rice, 80 bags of millet valued at approximately N200 million, and a truck previously seized from Mohammed along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway.

The court clarified that the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway is not a land border and that the NCS had no right to arrest or confiscate goods on this route, which is outside the scope of the ban on the importation of foreign rice.

The court further ruled that the NCS has no authority to patrol highways, such as the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway, specifically for the purpose of seizing foreign rice, as these roads do not qualify as land borders under the law.

Justice Ntong explained that after reviewing the appeal records, the judgment of the trial court, and the relevant laws, he agreed with the initial ruling that the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway is not covered by the importation restrictions on foreign rice.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed that 10 people, including four children, lost their lives in a tragic stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning.

The stampede occurred around 6:30 am as a large crowd, estimated to be over 1,000 people, gathered to receive food items meant for vulnerable and elderly individuals.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, reported that the authorities quickly responded to the situation, evacuating the scene and restoring order.

“This unfortunate event, which took place around 6:30 am, resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including four children, and left eight others injured,” she said.

Four of the injured individuals have been treated and released, while the others continue to receive medical care.

The FCT Police Rapid Response Squad and the FCT Joint Task Force were able to disperse the remaining crowd, which had grown beyond control.

In a show of support, Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, visited the injured in the hospital, offering condolences to the families of the deceased and ensuring that proper care was being provided to the victims.

Adeh also issued a warning to event organizers, urging them to notify the police of any public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in advance.

She emphasized the importance of this notification to allow for the deployment of appropriate security measures to ensure public safety.

Failure to comply, she warned, would result in organizers being held accountable for any ensuing incidents or loss of life.

The incident in Abuja follows a similar tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, where at least 35 children died in a stampede at a children’s funfair just days before.

The stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church occurred during a food distribution event aimed at providing relief to struggling residents from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and nearby areas.

At least twelve people have been confirmed dead and over thirty-two others injured in a tragic stampede that occurred in Okija town, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State this Saturday morning.

The incident took place during a scramble for Christmas rice, which was being distributed by philanthropist, Chief Earnest Obiejesi, also known as Obi Jackson.

This distribution of food items, a tradition for the philanthropist, has been held during festive seasons as part of his foundation’s efforts to support the community.

However, this year’s event turned tragic when a crowd, in a desperate rush for the rice, became uncontrollable, leading to the stampede that claimed the lives of twelve individuals.

Uchenna, a local resident, explained, “It is not our brother Obi Jackson that caused their death but the crowd that refused to comport themselves and the bags of rice that I saw can take care of everyone and even more people but due to the hunger in the land most people feel that the rice may not get to them and that was why this sad incident happened and it is very unfortunate,” he lamented.

Mrs. Maria Okonkwo, who was on her way to the event when the tragedy unfolded, described the scene in detail: “The number is too much and more people were still coming to take part in the sharing of the bags of rice when people started shouting and the organizers were busy trying to control the crowd, but there is nothing much they could do because the crowd had overpowered them. Some people chose to carry as many bags as possible when people started falling, and some of those who fell were trampled upon by the surging crowd, leading to the death of those people.”

She continued, “I cannot say how many people died, but it could be around ten or thirteen. Those that got injured are more than thirty, and some people, about six, fainted.”

Efforts to reach the organizers for comment were unsuccessful, as none of them answered their calls, possibly still in shock over the incident.

In response to the tragedy, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochikwu Ikenga, issued a statement, confirming the occurrence of the stampede: “Anambra State Police Operatives have taken over the scene in Okija where an alleged stampede occurred in the early hours of today 21/12/2024, that led to some persons being fatally wounded.”

The police spokesperson further clarified the situation: “Preliminary information reveals that a known philanthropist from the Okija Community, on his yearly schedule, shares some palliatives with members of the community to provide succor to the less privileged. Unfortunately, before the event could start, a large number of uncontrolled persons took over the event area, which resulted in a stampede.”

“Though the details of the affected persons are still sketchy, Police Operatives have taken over the scene for proper investigation. Further details shall be communicated,” he added.

A tragic accident in Ondo State has left three police officers and a female suspect dead after a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed into a police van.

The incident occurred on Thursday at Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area.

According to police sources, the truck, an articulated vehicle, veered off the road, crossed the median, and collided with the van that was transporting the officers and the suspect.

The officers, part of the State Police Command’s monitoring unit, were tracking high-profile criminals when the accident occurred.

Reports indicated that six policemen were en route from Akure to Ore to make an arrest when the tragedy unfolded.

While three officers and the suspect died on the spot, several others in the van sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the state police spokesperson, could not be reached for comment on the incident.

However, Samuel Ibitoye, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ondo, confirmed the accident and attributed it to the truck driver’s excessive speed.

“The remains of the deceased officers have been taken to the morgue, with assistance from some good Samaritans,” Ibitoye stated. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.