Mutalubi Adebayo, the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, has issued a warning against unconstitutional investigations following the involvement of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in the controversial death sentence of Segun Olowookere.
Olowookere, a young man convicted of armed robbery, was sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Oyejide Falola of an Osun State High Court in Okuku in December 2014.
The court found Olowookere and Sunday Morakinyo guilty of armed robbery after they forcibly entered the home of a police officer, Balogun Tope, in April 2010, stealing his belongings at gunpoint.
Read Also: Adeleke Takes Action As Man Gets Sentenced To Death For Stealing Fowl In Osun
After a podcast featuring the parents of Olowookere went viral on Tuesday, Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, announced the initiation of an investigation and a possible pardon for the convict.
In response to the governor’s directive, Adebayo, in a statement released on Wednesday in Osogbo, acknowledged the governor’s constitutional power to grant pardons.
However, he criticized what he described as an “unconstitutional investigation” into the case.
Adebayo further cautioned against actions that could put judges at risk or expose them to threats from criminals, potentially leading to harm.
The senior lawyer also urged both the government and the public to be cautious of misinformation spread by bloggers and social media commentators, warning against allowing falsehoods to undermine the judiciary.
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His statement read, “The claim that the prisoner was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing a fowl is an outright falsehood and cheap blackmail, aimed at securing his release through underhanded means.
“The convict was a member of a notorious gang of armed robbers that terrorised residents of Odo-Otin Local Government Area in Osun State before his arrest. He was fairly tried, convicted, and sentenced to death by hanging by the Osun State High Court. There has been no appeal against the judgment in over 14 years.”
Adebayo explained that although governors and the president have the constitutional authority to grant pardons, it is unconstitutional for the executive branch to probe into judicial decisions, including the rationale or appropriateness of those rulings.
“The executive arm lacks such powers. Investigating judges for their decisions constitutes a usurpation of the judiciary’s constitutional role. Judges being harassed online for performing their lawful duties is deeply traumatic, especially when such attacks are rooted in falsehoods and rumours,” he added.
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Former AG wait now The governor did not say he wants to investigate the judge He wants to find out the truth of the matter and there after his AG should advise him if prerogative of mercy can be granted to the young thief after spending 14 years in prison