The Osun State Judiciary has debunked claims that Segun Olowookere and Sunday Morakinyo were sentenced to death for stealing a fowl, clarifying that the case involved armed robbery. In a statement signed by the Registrar, F.I. Omisade, the judiciary described the misinformation as an attempt to malign the court and the trial judge.
The controversy arose after Olowookere’s parents claimed in a podcast interview that their son had been sentenced to death for stealing a fowl. This sparked public outrage and prompted Governor Ademola Adeleke to initiate an investigation into the matter, with a promise to seek the convict’s release.
The judiciary explained that under Nigerian law, a death sentence can only be imposed for armed robbery or murder, not for theft, regardless of the value of the stolen item. Omisade stated, “An educated person does not need to be a lawyer to know that someone cannot be sentenced to death for stealing a fowl—or even a billion naira—unless arms were involved in the crime.”
According to court records, Olowookere and Morakinyo were found guilty of committing armed robbery in 2010, including robbing a poultry farm at gunpoint. Firearms were recovered from them, and both confessed to multiple robberies. The court imposed the death penalty as mandated by law for armed robbery cases.
The judiciary further clarified that the convicts were not minors at the time of the crime, as their confessional statements indicated they were 19 and 18 years old. It criticized the false narrative as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Osun State High Court.
In defense of the trial judge, the judiciary emphasized that he followed the law and even recommended the convicts for executive clemency, showcasing his compassion. The statement concluded by urging the public to avoid spreading misinformation that undermines judicial processes.
