The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has berated the Nigerian legal system for what he described as “harsh inequalities” in the administration of justice.
Obi’s words came after a contentious theft case involving Segun Olowookere, who was condemned to death for stealing a chicken in Osun State.
Olowookere and his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested in 2010 at the age of 17 for breaking into the homes of a police officer and another individual.
After years of legal proceedings, Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court condemned the couple to death by hanging in 2014, finding them guilty of breaking into the police officer’s home and taking his possessions.
The case has caused extensive discussion among Nigerians, prompting the intervention of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The governor asked the state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice to thoroughly investigate the matter and begin the process of giving Olowookere the prerogative of mercy.
In a statement, Adeleke said, “Osun is a land of justice and equity, and we must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives. I assure members of the public that this matter is receiving my direct attention, with every sense of urgency attached to our response.”
Obi responded to the development on Friday via his X Twitter, praising Adeleke’s intervention while decrying the inequities in Nigeria’s justice system.
Obi wrote, “I commend Governor Ademola Adeleke for stepping in to prevent the inhumane punishment of death by hanging for the theft of a fowl and eggs—an offence for which the individual had already spent 14 years in prison.
“That sentence alone far exceeded the demands of justice if the crime warranted such consideration in the first place.
“This case underscores the harsh inequalities of the Nigerian legal system. If you dare to speak freely, you are treated as a criminal and silenced. If you embezzle billions of public funds, you are celebrated, even when caught and taken to court.
“Yet, those pursuing honest, legitimate businesses are burdened by oppressive regulations and treated with suspicion, as though success through integrity is a crime.”
Olowookere’s parents described their trauma and expressed hope for justice in an interview on Abiola Adebayo’s Talk To B show, which aired on Tuesday.
They explained the events leading up to their son’s conviction and the ensuing challenges he faced, claiming that he was unfairly convicted.
