…Advocates for Justice Reform and Child Rights Protection
…Gov Adeleke Grants Pardon
Femi Falana SAN, in a detailed critique,faulted the trial, conviction and death sentence of Olowokere Segun, who was sentenced to death 10 years ago at the age of 17.
He argued that the trial violated established laws, including the Child’s Rights Law, which mandates that cases involving minors must be tried in Family Court.
“Even if a child is convicted of armed robbery, the law prohibits imprisonment, corporal punishment, or the death penalty,” Falana emphasized.
The learned trial judge, Justice Falola, had earlier recommended clemency due to Olowokere’s age and first-offender status. However, poverty and ignorance on the part of Olowokere’s family prevented them from appealing the judgment or pursuing the clemency recommendation.
In a case that highlights glaring judicial and systemic flaws, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has granted full pardon to the victim.
The pardon was granted under the Governor’s prerogative of mercy as enshrined in Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution.
Olowokere’s trial, conviction, and sentencing for armed robbery by the Osun State High Court have been described by legal experts, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, as illegal and void due to his status as a minor at the time of the offense.
A Decade of Injustice
For 10 years, Olowokere languished on death row at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre, a situation Falana described as a miscarriage of justice and a failure of the judicial system.
“The Osun State High Court lacked jurisdictional competence to try him. The case should never have proceeded in a regular court,” he said.
Falana also cited Section 420 of the Osun State Criminal Procedure Law, which prohibited the imposition of the death penalty on persons under 18 years, even before the enactment of the Child’s Rights Law.
A Call for Judicial Reform
This case mirrors past miscarriages of justice, such as the 1989 conviction of 12 minors in Lagos for armed robbery under similarly flawed circumstances. Falana recalled challenging the case on human rights grounds, eventually securing relief for the convicts after prolonged legal battles.
“The case of Olowokere Segun is a sad reminder of systemic failures that disregard the rights of children and the marginalized,” Falana noted, urging for reforms to ensure minors are protected under the law and not subjected to undue punishment.
Governor Adeleke’s decision to grant clemency is seen as a step toward correcting past wrongs. Advocacy groups and legal experts have called for greater public awareness and legal aid to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future.
As Olowokere Segun regains his freedom, his story serves as a sobering reminder of the need for justice reforms and a robust child protection framework in Nigeria.
