By Amah
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Segun Olowookere, the 17-year-old youth, who was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing fowl and eggs but recently pardoned by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, has recounted his harrowing 14-year ordeal in prison.
Recalling his feeling upon being sentenced to death, he said: “I was heartbroken; no one will hear his or her death’s day and be happy. However, I had hope that I would not be killed.”
According to Olowookere, people in the courtroom were shocked that the judge could sentence them to death for stealing fowl.
“They felt so bad because of our age and the nature of the crime we were convicted of” he said.
“They thought the judge should have pardoned us because we were minors. They even wondered why we were sentenced to death because of fowls and eggs. So, many people, including my prosecutor, felt so bad and sympathised with us. The prosecutor, who was from the Ministry of Justice, said she would not be responsible for my death if I was killed.”
He further said after the sentence, he alongside fellow convict, Mayowa were first taken to Ilesa Correctional Centre, Osun State and later Ibara Prison, Abeokuta, on the second day.
He added that while going through trial, he was remanded at Ilesa correctional centre from 2010 to 2014 where he was teaching some primary school pupils at the Princess Hope Foundation School inside the prison.
Like the courtroom situation, Olowookere said warders at the prison also ‘felt bad’ the court sentenced them to death.
He said the prison authorities both at Ilesa and Ibara centres queried why the court passed the judgment saying they ‘were small boys and that we should have been taken to a juvenile home.’
“They expressed their dismay that the judgment was so harsh. The case caused a lot of stir then. Many people, including other inmates and warders, were coming to see me because they were surprised about our case.”
While in prison, Olowookere said he enrolled at Yewa College of Education where he studied Business Administration. His stay at Ibara while awaiting the ‘day of death’ was cut short as he was moved to Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos in 2016.
Though he was to be killed, Olowookere was full of hope that one day, mercy would be shown to him
To keep the hope alive, he said he engaged in extracurricular activities, such as playing football in the prison.
At Kirikiri prison, Olowookere was opportune to undergo training in medical services at the medical facility in the centre. He was trained in comprehensive health services and surgical procedures, among other medical services.
He said 400 inmates were on death row at Kirikiri Maximum Prison while he along with other three out of the 400 shared the same cell.
His prison experience has taught him many lessons, one of which was to avoid joining a bad gang or relate with people, who will not improve your life.
I am the only one who knows how much I learnt. I am now a good person to myself. I will never make a single mistake or do anything that will take me back to the prison. I did not know anything about the case that took me to prison, but God used it to teach me a lot of lessons. I have a lot of experience, even as an inmate executive,” he said.
However, with nostalgic feelings, Olowookere remembered some of the ugly things he saw in the prison. One of such is sodomisation of new convicts by ‘hardened criminals.’
“Police should also prioritise reforming suspects with minor offences instead of sending them to prison to meet hardened criminals, who would make their lives complicated,” he counselled.
“I have seen a lot of instances where those who went to jail on trumped-up charges and minor crimes became hardened criminals after they left prison.
“Some of these hardened criminals and convicts, who have spent close to 25 to 30 years in jail would prey on these innocent minors and even sodomise them because they know they do not have anyone to run to. These older inmates manipulated younger ones, who freshly joined them; they lured the minors with tea, garri and little things to force them to commit sodomy.
“The minors sometimes fall for the tricks because they are usually hungry and don’t have anyone to help them. But anytime these inmates are caught, they are always beaten and dealt with. Police and courts should consider the implications of throwing minors and small offenders into prison,” Olowookere further said.
Now out of prison, Olowookere thanked Governor Adeleke for pardoning him. He also thanked his family members for not losing hope and standing by him throughout his ordeal.
