In a bid to mark the 2024 Christmas season with acts of compassion, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has granted clemency to Segun Olowookere and Sunday Morakinyo.
They were sentenced to death in 2014 for robbery-related offenses committed in 2010.
The duo, aged 17 at the time, had been convicted of stealing two fowls, eggs, and mobile phones from individuals in Okuku, Osun State.
Despite the minor theft, the court had sentenced them to death by hanging in 2014, sparking nationwide outrage over the severity of the punishment.

They were granted a prerogative of mercy alongside 51 other convicts who had varying levels of sentences in correctional centres in Osun, by the governor.
The governor’s decision, made on the recommendation of the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, highlighted a broader push for prison reforms and justice review in the state.

Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated that the clemency alignsled with constitutional powers and the spirit of the season.

“This exercise of mercy follows the recommendations made by the State Advisory Council and underscores the administration’s commitment to fairness and humanity,” Rasheed said in a statement.

The letter of commutation, dated December 24, 2024, has been officially acknowledged by prison authorities.

The governor’s move has sparked debates over Nigeria’s judicial process, with human rights advocates praising the decision as a step toward addressing sentencing disparities and prison decongestion.

The case of Olowookere and Morakinyo, sentenced as teenagers, drew public attention due to the severity of their punishment relative to the crime.
Their release is expected to reignite discussions on justice reforms and youth rehabilitation programs.

In his address, Governor Adeleke emphasized the importance of second chances and pledged to continue reviewing cases deserving of mercy while balancing justice with compassion.

After meeting his bail conditions, prominent human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has regained his freedom from the correctional center in Ekiti State.
Farotimi was released on Tuesday morning, following last week’s ruling by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti, which granted him bail on the condition of a ₦30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must own property), submission of his passport, and a ban on granting media interviews.
Addressing journalists shortly after his release, Farotimi reaffirmed his commitment to truth and denied ever spreading falsehoods against anyone.

“It is not ever an easy journey when you are fighting evil,” Farotimi said. “But before I started this work, God told me that the truth is enough. It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria. I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know something, I will say I don’t know.”
Farotimi’s legal troubles began following the release of his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, on July 2, 2024.
In the 116-page publication, Farotimi alleged that some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), including Aare Afe Babalola, had engaged in judicial corruption by influencing Supreme Court Justices.

Babalola subsequently accused Farotimi of defamation, leading to his arrest at his Lagos office on December 3 by operatives attached to the Ekiti State Police Command. Farotimi was transported to Ekiti State, where he faced defamation and cyberbullying charges.
In addition to the defamation claims brought by Babalola’s legal team, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, filed 12 more charges against Farotimi at the Federal High Court in Ekiti on December 6, 2024.
Farotimi maintained that his book reflected facts and insights into Nigeria’s justice system, adding that his work was aimed at reforming rather than attacking the legal profession.
“It is the truth that will set this country free,” Farotimi said, vowing to continue his advocacy for justice and fairness despite the legal battles.

The case is expected to proceed in January 2025, with prosecutors set to present additional evidence. Meanwhile, Farotimi’s legal team is reportedly considering a motion to quash the charges.
Farotimi’s arrest and detention have drawn public outrage, with many civil society organizations condemning what they describe as an attempt to silence dissent.

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has ordered the remand of three individuals in connection with the tragic stampede that claimed several lives at Bashorun Islamic High School last week.

Those remanded include the school’s principal, Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi; the proprietor of Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat; and Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ile Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Center pending further legal advice from the state prosecutor.

The suspects are facing a four-count charge, with the police prosecutor arguing that their actions violated Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
The stampede occurred during a children’s funfair organized at Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, leading to multiple deaths and injuries. The tragic event has since drawn widespread condemnation, prompting investigations into the organization and safety measures at the venue.

The court premises witnessed tight security as relatives, sympathizers, and interested parties gathered to observe the proceedings.
The magistrate’s ruling has sparked mixed reactions, with some called for leniency while others demand justice for the victims.
The suspects will remain in custody at the Agodi Correctional Center while legal advice is awaited to determine whether the case proceeds to the High Court.

This development marks a critical step in the search for accountability following the devastating incident.