₦airaland Forum

Justice George Sodeinde Showemimo was Chief justice of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985. However, many people dont know that in 1963, he was the Judge that sat on the treason trial of Obafemi Awolowo. He later convicted and sentenced Awolowo to 10 years in prison. In 1990, he granted an interview where he stated why he jailed Awolowo, and that he would do it again if the case came before him.

'What Dr. Maja, the first prosecution witness said, nobody said a thing about it. He said they (the suspects) were all lined up by Chief Awolowo who told them to deny that they made confessional statements that Kwame Nkrumah [the Ghanaian Head of State] gave 60,000 pounds to him (Awolowo) in preparation for the coup."

Q: "Since that celebrated trial, the issue has been that you were under pressure from the [Tafawa Balewa] government [to convict the defendants). Is that true?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "There was no pressure from anybody."

Q: "How about the Awo people. Was there any effort to influence you not to imprison him?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "Look, the man is dead. One does n not say something about dead people. You try to forget. If you are in a position to give judgment in an African community, there is always a tendency: you have pressures. But your own [as a judge] is to do that which is just, but you resist all. There must be pressures; you resist all, wherever they come. You can't avoid it in an African community. We are still growing May be in the course of time we will get over it."

Q: "Sir, your statement at the tria| where you said 'My hands are tied' has been very controversial. What did you really mean by the phrase?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "The man (Chief Obafemi Awolowo) said, 'please, for God sake, release me, let me go away: I told him, I have jailed all the others. I have sentenced them to prison in a matter n which I found you are the leader who composed and did everything, and only got these chaps to take part. If I have jailed them, I can't release you. I have done the judgment I can't go back again. My hands are tied! But the people said, 'Ah they have tied him with money.' But they refused to state what Awolowo said. He was begging me! But I said, how can I justify my conscience?' But the next day, the Daily Express, the Daily Times and the Tribune carried it this way: 'My Hands Are Tied by Government'. But what was their own gain if I jailed Awolowo or not?"

Q: "You spoke before of the element of pressure in our African community. In view of this factor and your being a Yoruba man, have the Yoruba as a people found you a sell-out for jalling Awolowo their leader?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "When I was becoming a judge it was not because I was a Yoruba man. So what my look out? It's all politics and they would want to twist everything. It was deliberate mischief. It was Justice [Sigismund Olanrewaju] Lambo who tried Pa Anthony Enahoro [as one of the defendants], and nobody shouted. You know at first Enahoro escaped [from Nigeria]. He was [later] extradited from London [to face his trial). But Awo controlled the newspapers, The Tribune, Daily Express and others [at the time]. They were all Action Group papers. Whatever they printed was gospel truth."'

Q: "Has there been a standing malice between you and the Awo followers?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "You cannot avoid that. Even though not in a particular way. I try to forget things. When Awolowo died, I wrote a condolence, message 'One is sorry to learn of somebody who dies. May his soul rest in peace.' But the Tribune [newspaper] was annoyed that I didn't go [on] to say, Africa has lost a great man. The Yorubas have lost a great leader. Because I jailed him. For not saying that the Tribune wrote what they wanted to write about me. That's their own lookout. You just have to develop thick skin."

Q: "Have you suffered any deprivations from society for being the Judge who jailed Awo?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "Can you help me out? Unless you can, then we [should] forget those things. Unless we forget, we can't get out of it. When these people are in power they want you to know. But if you keep a straight mind that you did what is right you succeed unless you give way, then, you have your self to blame."

Q: "In view of the controversial nature of that case, could you have refused to hear the case in your court?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "If you are a Judge you don't distinguish between one case and another. If a case involved my brother, I wont do it. But none of those I tried was my brother .... You have to go through all the files and satisfy your conscience. So I read every statement [in the case files]. The whole thing was so plain. But for the fact that it has taken such a long time now, I cannot tell you from my head all what I came across in the statements. You see, the unfortunate thing you see among Nigerians is that because the man is a Yoruba, he should not convict another Yorubaman. Because he is [lgbo], he should not convict another [Igbo] man, and because he is Hausa, he should not convict another Hlausaman. And we say we are equal to the white people! Do they do that in their countries? If Awo were convicted by a European, would you be shouting? Because l am a Yoruba man."

Q: "Do you think that Awo's trial had any effect on your career on the Bench until you retired?"

JUSTICE SOWEMIMO:"| became Chief Justice [of Nigeria]. It was not because of that. It was turn by turn. I went through the ropes. I became what I was destined to be. I did my work all along, became a [High Court] judge, then a Supreme Court judge, and then Chief Justice of Nigeria. . Governments don't control the judiciary."

Q:"If you were presented with that case again, would you take the same decision? Do you now regret jailing Awolowo?"
JUSTICE SOWEMIMO: "Never. If I sit on it again today, I will do the same thing."
SOURCE. -AFRICAN CONCORD (12 February 1990) pp. 32-33.

And who knows anything about this Sowemimo man or family. They have left zero footprint anywhere.

Whereas Awolowo is being honored everywhere with monument, currency, university and many other things being names after him.

Awolowo had a charade trial no doubt but the turning around to betray the eastern region during the brutal civil war didn't end well for him.

Racoon:
Awolowo had a charade trial no doubt but the turning around to betray the eastern region during the brutal civil war didn't end well for him.

Azikiwe betrayed the SE. Nothing to do with Awo. See below of Zik calling Ojukwu's biafrian army "rebels".

Someone said who knows Justice Sowemimo and his family? A former CJN?
Nairaland ooooo

When Judges were Judges/
Well, the learned jurist was wrong somewhere: "Government don't control Judiciary" He will turn in his grave to know what's happening now!

“….Whatever others may say, this is my personal view. I am not speaking as a judge but as a Nigerian. Here we have one of the first Premiers of the autonomous region standing trial. If you were the only one before me, I would have felt that it was enough for you to have undergone the strain of the trial. I would have asked you to But I am sorry, I cannot do so now because my hands are tied.

Having sentenced those young chaps whatever happens I have to pass some sort of sentence. If I made up my mind to sentence the other accused persons who I find were tools in the hands of others, and if my conclusion is right, it is for me to see that a punishment by me in my court is such that others would see that there is no preferential treatment.

I do not see what useful purpose a sentence of imprisonment will do to you, but I have come to the conclusion that these things emanate from you. To get yourself involved in this thing is enough shame. But this is a political crime. There are things which one may never know. All I know is what is before me and I am bound by the evidence. You mentioned about the delay in giving judgment, but I wish you were in my position and had to read some of these things – the evidence which was about 800 pages and the notes of submissions also about 600 pages. I was never hoping or thinking that I would be called upon to try a former Head of Government and Leader of Opposition. I am only happy that this is a court of first instance. ”

Your sentencing is as follows:-

1st Count – 10 years I.H.L (Imprisonment with Hard Labor)

Treasonable felony, contrary to Section 41(b) of the Criminal Code

2nd Count – 5 years I.H.L.

Conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 516 of the

Criminal Code

3rd Count – 2 years I.H.L.

Conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose, contrary to Section 518 (6)

of the Criminal Code

Sentences to be concurrent

The accused:

Chief Anthony Enahoro – 15 years

Mr. Ayo Akinsanya – 7 years

Mr. Sunday Ebietoma – 7 years

Mr. Lateef Jakande – 7 years

Mr. Anomuogharan Okotie – Yesin – 7 years

Mr. Michael Omisade – 7 years

Mr. Uzodinma Nwaobiala 5 years

Mr. Samuel Onitiri – 5 years

Mr. Gabby Shasore – 5 years

Mr. Joshua Akamo – 5 years

Mr. Adeyiga Akinsanya – 3 years

Mr. Josiah Olawoyin – 3 years

Mr. Simeon Oyeshile – 3 years

Mr. Sebastian James Umoren 3 years

Mr. Sunbo Jibowu – 2 years

Chief S. T Oredein – 2 year

Mr. Samuel Otubanjo – 2 years

Discharged
Mr. Tunde Amuwo
Mr. Joseph Tarka
Chief Alfred Rewane
Mr. Victor Olabisi Onabanjo
Dr Chike Obi
Chief G. Ekwejunor-Etchie
Mr. Muri Badmus

Source: wordpress

Awolowo of blessed memory. The great architect of modern Yorubaland.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR SAN planned to connect the entire country with trains about 70 years ago.

Awo said:

Chief Awolowo on RAILING up Nigeria 72 years ago.

"What the Nigerian economy lacks woefully is mobility."

"Any country that moves sluggishly and slowly will never make it economically. You will carry goods from Kano; it takes two or three days, with the driver languishing on the way."

"So the goods don't arrive in time at places where they will be consumed or badly needed."

"And when they arrive, they are too expensive and so on. "

"We considered a project when l was in the Western Region, and l thought all of us - the three regions at the time, should cooperate to make the scheme work."

"Well, the basis of the scheme, of course, is that the Federal Government will improve the speed of the railway from Kano to Lagos."

"We suggested that instead of bringing cattle on the roof from the North, where they were reared, let them bring the carcass. The refrigerated flesh would arrive in Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and so on."

"So, there was a lot of correspondence on it. But not enough interest was shown, and in the end, the thing was abandoned."

“That is a dream we dreamt of in the Western Region around 1953/54"

Slytiger:
And who knows anything about this Sowemimo man or family. They have left zero footprint anywhere.

Whereas Awolowo is being honored everywhere with monument, currency, university and many other things being names after him.

His son is a SAN.

Worry about your own family that doesn't have any worth.

OneCandleAway:
His son is a SAN.

Worry about your own family that doesn't have any worth.

Are you related to This Sowemimo? I dont know of any university hall or monument named after this Sowemimo. I have more than one SAN in my families, so its no biggie. It may he a big deal to you sha. Omo Talika.

madridguy:
Awolowo of blessed memory. The great architect of modern Yorubaland.

Indeed.
Thousands of likes and shares on X.

What an absolute legend!

Awolowo's Yoruba coup comes to mind

Chai! I am so much in love with IBB and the end of the L agos I badan E xpressway media lies

Awolowo was a con man...who died a miserable death akin to frustration.

Greedy man.

i no sure awolowo supports separatist, he said, he dont wanna rule half nation

When it comes to vision and administration nobody dead or alive comes close to Pa Obafemi Awolọwọ. We were ahead of alot of European countries in socioeconomic life. Southwest Nigerians were watching TV before countries like Portugal.

Goodvibes007:
Indeed.
Thousands of likes and shares on X.

What an absolute legend!

For not allowing Zik to rule over South West region?

Ibechris2:
Awolowo was a con man...

Goodvibes007:
Indeed.
Thousands of likes and shares on X.

What an absolute legend!

No one comes close. A man that was beyond his time.

Slytiger:
Are you related to This Sowemimo? I dont know of any university hall or monument named after this Sowemimo. I have more than one SAN in my families, so its no biggie. It may he a big deal to you sha. Omo Talika.

The thing pain you. You had to respond twice.

Pele my dear.

Slytiger:
No one comes close. A man that was beyond his time.

The great Awo.

Dear Amaka,

Thank you for your feedback. You have two people to blame for Nigeria's indissolubility.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo mooted the idea of a secession clause in 1954 during the Lagos Constitutional Conference, but Nnamdi Azikiwe rejected it, galvanising a majority of the conference attendees to kill the idea.

After this was rejected, Chief Awolowo again wrote to the then Governor General of Nigeria, who rejected the clause because the majority, led by Nnamdi Azikiwe, did not support it.

A year before Awolowo tried to get a secession clause into the Constitution, Nnamdi Azikiwe had threatened Northern Nigeria with war if they tried to secede from Nigeria at a speech he gave on Monday, May 12, 1953. Please find below a quote from that speech:

"It may lead to economic nationalism in the Eastern Region, which can pursue a policy of blockade of the North, by refusing it access to the sea, over and under the River Niger, except upon payment of tolls."

Because of Nnamdi Azikiwe, section 86 was inserted into our constitution with the proviso that if any region should secede, it would be an act of treason.

Just a year before Biafra tried to break away from Nigeria on Tuesday, May 30, 1967, Isaac Boro tried secession by declaring the Niger Delta Republic on February 23, 1966.

Please fact-check me: Colonel Ojukwu first sent troops to quash Boro's rebellion. When he could not overwhelm Boro's Niger Delta Volunteer Force, he requested for federal troops, and Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi granted his request and sent soldiers to Ijaw land on February 27, 1966, following which Boro was captured and sentenced.

The then Head of State, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, quashed what he called the Isaac Boro mutiny using primarily troops of Eastern Nigeria origin.

So if Ojukwu and Ironsi did that to the Ijaws, how then would you want the Gowon administration and future governments to let Eastern/Southeast Nigeria secede?

That set the precedent for indissolubility under the military.

Therefore, Amaka, if you are looking for anyone to blame, please turn your attention to Azikiwe and Ironsi.

Thanks again, and may God bless you.

Reno Omokri

SeeWahala:
Awolowo's Yoruba coup comes to mind

Chai! I am so much in love with IBB and the end of the L agos I badan E xpressway media lies

Why the lies though. It was an Igbo coup 100 percent.

Enugurangers:
Why the lies though. It was an Igbo coup 100 percent.

No be today una start to dey tell unaselves stories and tales by moonlight na 🤗 extraordinary birds indeed

See below 👇🏾

Sowemimo was a stooge and house boy for Zik and Ahmadu Bello. Hence his famous statement after the sentencing of Awo and others that his hands were tied. A judge saying his hands were tied. He has zero legacy in Nigeria. Always do good so that your name can be looked at in good light after you are gone.

How Awolowo, the SAGE, predicted the civil war that led to the death of 3 millions biafrians.

AWOLOWO PREDICTED THE CIVIL WAR

While docked in Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo's court, charged for treason and awaiting sentence on 11th of September 1963, Awolowo accurately predicted the damage his potential incarceration will cause Nigeria.

Shall I Begin?

"... I personally welcome any sentence you may impose upon me. At this moment, my only concern is not for myself, but that my imprisonment might do harm to Nigeria for three reasons."

First, the invariable services which I can still render will be lost to the country, at least for a season.

Second, there might be a heightening of the present tension which has lasted for fifteen months, and has done incalculable injuries to the economy of the country.

Third, for some time to come the present twilight of democracy, individual freedom and the rule of law, will change or might change into utter darkness.

Awolowo, the Leader, the Prophet, the Idol...

And before the fake news merchant of Nnamdi Kanu start posting lies..

As per US intelligence, Ojukwu and Gowon were responsible for the millions of South Eastern kids that starved during the war.

Slytiger:
And who knows anything about this Sowemimo man or family. They have left zero footprint anywhere.

Whereas Awolowo is being honored everywhere with monument, currency, university and many other things being names after him.

I think God used him to preserve the life of the sage, Awolowo without which he would have been murdered by the coupists. All things work together for good to those that love God.

The great Awolowo was more than a prophet of his time.

Ibrahimcoomasie:
Sowemimo was a stooge and house boy for Zik and Ahmadu Bello. He has zero legacy in Nigeria.

How Awolowo, the SAGE, predicted the civil war that led to the death of 3 millions biafrians.

AWOLOWO PREDICTED THE CIVIL WAR

While docked in Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo's court, charged for treason and awaiting sentence on 11th of September 1963, Awolowo accurately predicted the damage his potential incarceration will cause Nigeria.

Shall I Begin?

"... I personally welcome any sentence you may impose upon me. At this moment, my only concern is not for myself, but that my imprisonment might do harm to Nigeria for three reasons."

First, the invariable services which I can still render will be lost to the country, at least for a season.

Second, there might be a heightening of the present tension which has lasted for fifteen months, and has done incalculable injuries to the economy of the country.

Third, for some time to come the present twilight of democracy, individual freedom and the rule of law, will change or might change into utter darkness.

Awolowo, the Leader, the Prophet, the Idol...

chopnaira:
I think God used him to preserve the life of the sage, Awolowo without which he would have been murdered by the coupists. All things work together for good to those that love God.

Well said.

This is something a lot of people fail to see.

Same way if Abacha had not locked up and almost killed OBJ in another purported coup, there is absolutely no way he would have been Presisdent again, especially after all the things he had said about his kinsman Abiola.

What of the one that put on skirt and fled to Ivory Coast

Slytiger:
Are you related to This Sowemimo? I dont know of any university hall or monument named after this Sowemimo. I have more than one SAN in my families, so its no biggie. It may he a big deal to you sha. Omo Talika.

He jailed Awo and you think Awoists won't make his life living hell?
He even said so himself, just that he doesn't regret it.
Awoists that attributed ALL development in South West to Awo even though most of those buildings and developmental strides was actually carried out under Ladoke akintola.

SeeWahala:
Awolowo's Yoruba coup comes to mind

Chai! I am so much in love with IBB and the end of the L agos I badan E xpressway media lies

Only igbos believed young military men mostly from the East will plan a coup in which all the political leaders of other region and tribes were killed except the leaders in the south east so as to make Awolowo , a yorubaman the President
If we are to believe it's true, why are igbos against Pbat, shey you people love yorubas so much that you are willing to risk other Nigerians alienating you for the sake of making a yorubaman President.

It was an Igbo coup , pure and simple

But of course you are free to think otherwise

Slytiger:
And who knows anything about this Sowemimo man or family. They have left zero footprint anywhere.

Whereas Awolowo is being honored everywhere with monument, currency, university and many other things being names after him.

Awolowo was a power-hungry man and a coup plotter.. Go and read his Autobiography 'Awo'. It reeks of self-adulation and ceaseless praise-singing for the massage of his ego.

He was rightly jailed. He was no saint and never believed in morality.
Chief Awolowo was also a cultist- an Ogboni man to the core and also defended a fellow Ogboni who was a Yoruba Oba, in a case that involved the Oba kidnapping a little girl for sadistic rituals after murdering her.

Stop pontifying Awo, he only believed in power and not ethics.

Their propaganda has gotten the better part of you bro. Believe you me, Awolowo was justly tried. He was the first coupist in Nigeria. He tried to play the tribal card on the just judge and he told him justice tied his hands. His boys came back in 1966 to finish the work and Awolowo deserted them and used his media to label them Igbo coupist. Very wicked ma, Awolowo

Racoon:
Awolowo had a charade trial no doubt but the turning around to betray the eastern region during the brutal civil war didn't end well for him.

The interesting thing here is that Awolowo was tied fairly by an unbiased umpire, found guilty under the weight of overwhelming evidence and sentenced to to prison along with others, for treason