Falana urges Osun govt to fully rehabilitate, integrate pardoned convict

A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has charged the Osun State government to facilitate the integration of the pardoned convict, Olowokere Segun, into the society.

He appreciated the decision of the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, in granting pardon to Olowokere Segun in the exercise of the prerogative of mercy conferred on him by Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Falana, who described the trial, conviction, and death sentence passed on Olowokere as illegal, null and void in every material particular, said: “The case ought to have been instituted in the Osun State Family Court, which is exclusively empowered to exercise jurisdiction in any criminal proceeding involving or relating to any penalty, forfeiture, punishment or other liability in respect of an offence committed by a child, against a child or the interest of a child.”

He further stated that even if a child is found guilty of armed robbery, he or she shall not be ordered to be imprisoned, subjected to corporal punishment or death penalty or even have the death penalty recorded against him.