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A young man’s life changed forever after being accused of stealing fowls in Osun State. Segun Olowookere was only 17 years old when he was arrested in 2010, leading to an unexpected death sentence that shocked many.
As stated in a Vanguard report, the story began in November 2010 in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State. Police arrested Olowookere and another suspect, Sunday Morakinyo, claiming they robbed a police officer named Tope Balogun of two fowls and eggs...N..>>Don’t Miss Out! CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING> >>>
They were also accused of stealing from others—taking fowls and eggs worth N20,000 from Oguntade Faramade, two mobile phones from Balogun Taye, and attempting to rob Alhaja Umani Oyewo. The charges included robbing Elizabeth Dare of vegetable oil while carrying cutlasses and a Dane gun.
Olowookere tells his story with raw emotion: “I was at my father’s shop in Oyan after returning from school. My dad and I were discussing my university admission, and suddenly, we heard gunshots, and everybody ran away except my dad and a few others.”
He continues his account: “My father was taken to a police van where there were some children. I was peeping out and could hear and see what was going on. The police asked my dad where I was, and he asked them what my offense was. When they couldn’t give him a satisfactory response, my father shouted at the top of his voice that I should run away because the police wanted to arrest me.”
At the police station, officers labeled him as the leader of a group of children aged 12 and 13 who supposedly stole the items. Despite Morakinyo stating he didn’t know Olowookere, both remained in custody while the other children were freed.
Olowookere says he faced torture to force a confession: “We were seriously tortured from the first day I got to the Okuku Police Station under the supervision of the DPO. The children who allegedly committed the crime were not beaten. He repeatedly asked me to admit and confess to a crime I didn’t commit.”
The police offered to release him for N30,000 bail, but his father could only gather N20,000. Before his father could return with more money, they moved Olowookere to the SARS office in Osogbo. “The cutlasses that were given to me and Morakinyo to cut the grass were presented to SARS as exhibits, and they were told we were armed robbers,” he explains.
After spending 17 days with SARS, both suspects faced robbery charges in a magistrate’s court before moving to the High Court. Despite pleading not guilty when brought before Justice Jide Falola at the Osun State High Court in Ikirun on January 30, 2013, they received death sentences. Today, Olowookere maintains he never committed these crimes...N..>>Don’t Miss Out! CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING> >>>
