A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, presided over by Magistrate Adekanmi Adeyeba has remanded an ex-convict, Sunday Omisakin at the Ilesa Correctional Centre, Osun State, just eight days after receiving a state pardon from Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Omisakin, it gathered was number 8 among the list of 53 inmates pardoned on December 26, 2024, under the governor’s prerogative of mercy by Governor Adeleke for a reportedly “simple offence”.
Following his release, Omisakin was accused of burgling a residence in Osogbo on Friday, January 3, 2025 and allegedly stole a plasma television valued at ₦600,000 during the incident.
The police apprehended him shortly after the alleged burglary.
Omisakin was charged before by Magistrate Adeyeba on two count charges of burglary and stealing.
The charges state that Omisakin unlawfully broke into a private property with the intent to commit theft. The stolen television was reportedly recovered during investigations by the authorities.
The court ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional facility pending further legal proceedings. His case has been adjourned to a later date for hearing.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Kayode Adeoye, said: “Omisakin on the 3rd day of January 2025 about 12:00pm in Al-medinat Area, Iludun, Osogbo broke and entered the house of one Shittu Damilare ‘m’ and stole one Plasma TV valued N600,000.
“The offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 411 (1) (2) 363, 390(9) of criminal code cap 34 vol.II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence as his counsel, Najite Okobe, urged the court to admit him to bail in most liberal terms.
The prosecutor opposed the bail, stating: “The governor pardoned him a few days ago. He was sentenced to prison by Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara and he was not done serving his jail term.”
This incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of reintegration programmes for pardoned ex-convicts and the need for measures to prevent recidivism.
The Osun State chapter for the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, CDHR, had through its Chairman, Emmanuel Olowu on Monday, 20 January, 2025 called on Nigerians to pressure the Ademola Adeleke administration to urgently rehabilitate the fifty two inmates pardoned on December, 2024.
The call by the human rights organisation repeatedly came is after reports by that Omisakin returned to crime and is presently remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Service facility.
Omisakin had been previously remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre.
