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Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Monday, said the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, should pardon a certain Morakinyo Sunday, who was arraigned alongside Segun Olowokere, an Osun “boy” who was sentenced to death over fowl theft.
PUNCH Online reports that Olowookere was arrested alongside another convict, Sunday Morakinyo, in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government of Osun State, in November 2010.
They were accused of robbing a policeman attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okuku, Tope Balogun, of two fowls and eggs.
On January 30, 2013, the police arraigned them before Justice Jide Falola of the state High Court in Ikirun for robbery and stealing.
Olowookere and Morakinyo were said to have conspired in November 2010 to rob one Oguntade Faramade of his fowls and eggs worth N20,000.
They were also accused of robbing Balogun Taye of his two mobile phones and attempting to rob another person, Alhaja Umani Oyewo, in her house.
According to the charge sheet, the convicts were armed with cutlasses and a dane gun to rob one Elizabeth Dare of a gallon of vegetable oil.
Both Olowookere and Morakinyo pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, Olowooke was said to have made a confessional statement to the police in which he admitted to committing the crime.
However, Justice Falola convicted and sentenced Olowookere and Morakinyo to death (for conspiracy to commit armed robbery); life imprisonment (for robbery), and three years imprisonment (for stealing) on December 17, 2014.
Speaking in a statement on Monday, Falana said, “In April 2010, the Osun State Police Command arrested 6 young persons for armed robbery. 4 defendants namely Dare Sunday (15), Adedeji Samuel (15), Ojo Dare (16), Adeyemo Akeem (14) were released for undisclosed reasons. However, Segun Olowokere and Morakinyo Sunday were eventually arraigned in October 2012 on an 8-count charge of armed robbery. Upon arraignment of the duo, the police informed the trial court that the 4 defendants had jumped bail without any evidence that they were declared wanted!
“In the course of the trial, the defence counsel contended that the 2nd defendant (Morakinyo Sunday) was non compos mentis. The trial judge dismissed the allegation of insanity of the second defendant and proceeded with the trial.
“However, it was reported last week that Governor Ademola Adeleke had pardoned Segun Olowokere. On account of this, he has since been released from prison custody. While Segun Olowokere is currently breathing the air of freedom, his colleague, Morakinyo Sunday is still languishing in his condemned cell in the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.
“Since Segun Olowokere and Morakinyo Sunday were convicted for the same offence of armed robbery and sentenced to death, the law requires that they be treated equally as section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution has prohibited any form of discriminatory treatment of citizens. We are therefore compelled to urge Governor Adeleke to exercise his prerogative of mercy in favour of Morakinyo Sunday by granting him pardon, as soon as possible.”
