A youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Akolade Arowolo, who killed his banker wife, Titilayo Omozoje at their residence, Akindeinde Street, Isolo, Lagos,is among 74 condemned prisoners seeking mercy under the prerogative of mercy conferred on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State under the constitution.
There were also scores of those serving life sentences at kirikiri maximum prison, Lagos also seeking mercy of the state, aside from the condemned prisoners. Pastor Arowolo could not hold back his pains after the court ruling, he burst into a fit of prayer.
Arowolo, spotting a sky blue T-shirt over a blue jeans trouser with a low haircut, sat among condemned prisoners who were called out randomly by Prerogative of Mercy Committee led by Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, set up by the governor to review their applications yesterday.
The committee was on a fact finding visit to Kirikiri Maximum Prison to have firsthand information of the inmates that are eligible for mercy and pardon. Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja sentenced Akolade to death having found him guilty of a one count charge murder of his wife, Titilayo preferred against him by the state government.
Foremost pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), who was a witness during his trial, Professor John Obafunwa, had then testified that he
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“discovered at least 76 stab wounds resulting from the use of tremendous force on the chest, heart, lungs, liver, diaphragm, hands and other parts of the deceased’s body.
The chairman of the committee, Prof. Oyewo said that there are rules and guidelines that would guide the committee in the conduct of its work. Prof. Oyewo said the committee would look at how heinous the crime committed was, whether the person cut his victim into pieces, how long he has spent in prison after conviction, whether he has truly repented and is remorseful and whether the society would accept that person. He said a lot really depend on the family who is expected to give some undertaking and care for beneficiaries of prerogative of mercy as those who have no family to receive them mighty lose the opportunity.
He said assurance of lifer outside prison is for them to first reconcile with their family, asking for forgiveness adding “I want to see it in you. Let your works speak for you, the way you comport yourself and mind who you flock with”.
The chairman of the committee, Prof. Oyewo said that there are rules and guidelines that would guide the committee in the conduct of its work. Prof. Oyewo said the committee would look at how heinous the crime committed was, whether the person cut his victim into pieces, how long he has spent in prison after conviction, whether he has truly repented and is remorseful and whether the society would accept that person. He said a lot really depend on the family who is expected to give some undertaking and care for beneficiaries of prerogative of mercy as those who have no family to receive them mighty lose the opportunity.
He said assurance of lifer outside prison is for them to first reconcile with their family, asking for forgiveness adding “I want to see it in you. Let your works speak for you, the way you comport yourself and mind who you flock with”.
He however said that nobody on death row, life sentence or serving a long prison term should expect pardon immediately as there are different stages of prerogative of mercy. Prof. Oyewo disclosed that the governor has approved the application for mercy of 18 prisoners whose cases were among those reviewed during their last visit to the prison facility. Arowolo who delivered a remark on behalf of his fellow condemned inmates, pleaded for mercy stressing that they are all remorseful and have learnt from their mistakes.
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“Your coming gave us a beacon of hope. I know that not everybody wrote application. Would there be opportunity for them? A lot of us have realized the wrongs that we did and having gone through the process of reformation, restoration and rehabilitation (3Rs), being faced with life and death, have held on to God that indeed we are wrong and plead that you give us a second chance”,
he told the committee.Deputy Controller, Kirikiri Maximum prison, Seye Oduntan thanked the committee for the visit which he said helped to reduce tension amongst the condemned prisoners.
Oduntan said that the prison was heated since last week following reports that government was considering execution of Reverend Chukwuemeka Ezeugo a.k.a. Reverend King whose death sentence was recently affirmed by the Supreme Court for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzor.
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