After three long months of detention, Funmilola Shogunle and her 15-year-old daughter, Toyin, have finally regained their freedom following a legal battle that highlighted the struggles of a family caught in the web of poverty and desperation.

Funmilola, a labourer who fries gari (cassava) for a living, found herself at the centre of this distressing case when her 9-year-old son, Sunday, was caught stealing five chickens from a local poultry farm in Ogbenu Village, Kobape, Abeokuta, Ogun State. On that fateful day, driven by hunger and the dire circumstances of their lives, the young boy took the chickens from the farm. When the police were alerted, Sunday confessed that his mother had sent him. Consequently, Funmilola was arrested alongside her daughter, Toyin, with authorities suspecting that she had orchestrated the theft—a claim she vehemently denied.

Based on the boy’s confession, the legal system moved forward with charges against all three: Sunday, Funmilola, and Toyin. On March 13, 2025, they were charged in court. The court recognized Sunday’s age and released him, but the ordeal for Funmilola and Toyin continued as they were remanded in Ibara Maximum Custodial Centre, facing bail conditions of 500,000 naira each. The case was adjourned to May 27, 2025. Had it not been for the intervention of the Centre for Justice, Mercy, and Reconciliation (CJMR), they could have faced an additional year in detention before the court reached a decision.

On May 14, 2025, the CJMR team was in Abeokuta High Court to attend the judgment delivery of Korede Odubela, anticipating a favorable outcome. However, the judgment, which led to the freedom of his wife, Toyin Odubela, and four others accused of the murder of their daughter, ultimately resulted in the condemnation of the husband and one other person. During this time, the case of Funmilola Shogunle and her daughter drew the attention of the CJMR, particularly during a visit by the Deputy Controller of Correctional Services, DCC Sanni.

Although Funmilola and Toyin were awarded bail, they were unable to meet the bail conditions due to their dire financial situation. Compounding their struggles, our investigation revealed that Funmilola’s husband had been sick since January and was unable to walk. Surviving had become increasingly difficult, as the wife who used to provide for him was imprisoned, leaving the family in a precarious position. The CJMR visited the village and interviewed Sunday, who denied that his mother had sent him to steal the chickens.

Contact was made with the farm manager, Dr. Muhammad, who expressed disappointment over the situation, blaming the mother for indulging her son’s bad behavior. However, he also expressed the farm’s good intentions to sponsor the boy’s education while remaining open to reconciliation with Funmilola through the CJMR.

After a thorough investigation, the CJMR brought the matter to the attention of the Ogun State Attorney General and Honorable Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade SAN, who intervened and facilitated the end of the trial.

On June 5, 2025, Funmilola Shogunle and her daughter were released unexpectedly. Their release marks a significant moment, not just for the family but for the community as well. It raises urgent questions about the intersection of justice, poverty, and compassion.

Mr. Shogunle has been sick since January. His son, Sunday Shogunle, is a 9-year-old boy who perpetrated the act of the stealing. Mrs. Funmilola Shogunle and her daughter, Tooyin, are also affected by this situation.

According to Pastor Hezekiah Olujobi, wealthy criminal individuals in society have the resources to hire and pay senior lawyers to prevent unlawful arrests and detentions, while poor people are routinely arrested and detained without trial.

Granting a bail with stringer condition that cannot be perfected to a poor man is eaqual to no bail.

As we reflect on this case, we must ask ourselves: **”What can we do as a society to ensure that families like the Shogunles are supported in their times of need, rather than punished for actions driven by desperation?”**

When you hear about injustice against someone in your community, what concrete steps do you take to address the injustice?

This question challenges us to consider how we can foster a more just and empathetic society, where understanding and support replace judgment and punishment, ensuring that no family is left to suffer alone. The Centre for Justice, Mercy, and Reconciliation is a grassroots organization focusing on human rights and access to justice for those who are wrongfully sentenced to death or detained in custody.

The world is full of problems. Think about how you can be a solution to one or two critical issues, and God will solve your own critical problems

There is an ongoing fundraising campaign on the Give to Africa Grassroots Champion Organization platform. Please visit our page and click the donation button to help support our cause.”

https://causes.2africa.org/campaigns/stand-up-for-justice-free-lives-amplify-their-voices

For more information, visit www.cjmr.com.ng
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#charityFreedom at last: Mother and daughter released after 3 months of detention instead of 3 years