Segun Olowookere, a young Nigerian man sentenced to death in Osun State for allegedly stealing a chicken, has opened up about the harrowing events surrounding his arrest, detention, and conviction.
Olowookere, who was only 17 at the time of his arrest in 2010, revealed that the complainant in his case was a family member. The incident that changed his life unfolded in November 2010 in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, where he and another individual, Sunday Morakinyo, were accused of robbing a police officer of chickens and eggs.
According to the charges, the pair were also accused of conspiring to rob Oguntade Faramade of fowls and eggs worth N20,000, stealing mobile phones, and attempting to rob others. Another allegation claimed they robbed Elizabeth Dare of a gallon of vegetable oil, reportedly using weapons.
When arraigned on January 30, 2013, before Justice Jide Falola at the Osun State High Court, both Olowookere and Morakinyo pleaded not guilty. However, a purported confessional statement attributed to Olowookere became pivotal in the case.
Recounting his ordeal in an interview, Olowookere described the moment of his arrest. He had been at his father’s shop discussing his university admission when police stormed in, firing shots. “The police asked my dad where I was, and when he demanded to know my offense, they gave no clear answer. My father yelled for me to run, but I came out because I didn’t understand what I had done,” Olowookere recalled.
At the station, he was accused of being the leader of a group of children, aged 12 and 13, allegedly involved in the theft. Despite denying the charges, Olowookere said he was tortured to extract a confession. He claimed the police demanded a bribe of N30,000 for his release, but when his father could only gather N20,000, they rejected the amount.
Before his father could return with the full sum, Olowookere and Morakinyo were transferred to the SARS office in Osogbo, where they were further tortured. “Cutlasses we used to clear grass were presented as evidence against us, labeling us armed robbers,” he said.
After spending 17 days in SARS custody, the two were arraigned on robbery charges. They were later sentenced to death by a High Court despite Olowookere’s repeated claims of innocence.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Olowookere condemned the injustices he faced and maintained his innocence, highlighting the systemic failures that led to his conviction.
