Osun Court Debunks Viral Report of Death Sentence for Fowl Theft

The Osun State High Court has dismissed viral media reports claiming that a young man was sentenced to death for stealing a fowl, calling them “mischievous and misleading.” In a statement titled “Setting the Record Straight” and issued on December 20, the court clarified the facts surrounding the case of Olowookere Segun.

These erroneous reports suggested that Olowookere Segun was convicted and sentenced to death for merely stealing a fowl. However, the court strongly refuted these claims, describing them as an attempt to malign the judiciary.

The statement explained that the case in question, which took place on December 17, 2014, involved more than just petty theft. Segun and his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested in 2010 for a series of armed robberies, including an armed robbery at a poultry farm in Oyan, Osun State. The court noted that weapons were recovered from the suspects, who confessed to their crimes.

Segun was charged with armed robbery, a crime that, under Nigerian law, mandates a death sentence if a lethal weapon is used. After a trial that lasted from 2013 to 2014, the court convicted both Segun and Sunday. Contrary to claims that Segun was only 17 years old at the time of the trial, the court clarified that he was actually 19 at the time of his arrest.

The court also emphasized that the trial judge followed the law by sentencing Segun and Sunday to death for armed robbery, while also recommending clemency to the governor. The judiciary urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation and to respect the integrity of the legal system.