Governor Ademola Adeleke Grants Pardon to Man Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Stealing Fowl

Nigerian Man on Death Row for 14 Years Over fowl Theft Granted Pardon.

 

A Nigerian man, Segun Olowookere, who has spent 14 years on death row for stealing fowl and eggs, is set to be pardoned by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Olowookere was only 17 years old in 2010 when he and his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested. They were accused of attacking the homes of a police officer and another individual using a wooden gun and a sword. Their haul from the robbery was limited to poultry items.

 

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In 2014, Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court sentenced the pair to death by hanging for breaking into the police officer’s house and stealing his belongings. The ruling sparked outrage across Nigeria, with many criticizing the punishment as excessively harsh.

Both men were transferred to the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos, where they have remained on death row for over a decade.

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In a statement released Tuesday, Governor Adeleke announced his decision to pardon Olowookere, emphasizing the importance of upholding justice and protecting life.

“I have directed the Commissioner for Justice to initiate processes to grant prerogative of mercy to the young man. Osun is a land of justice and equity. We must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives,” Adeleke stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The fate of Morakinyo Sunday, who was sentenced alongside Olowookere, remains uncertain, as his name was not mentioned in the governor’s statement.

Olowookere’s parents, human rights activists, and concerned Nigerians have long campaigned for his release. His parents recently made a tearful plea for clemency on a podcast, urging the state to pardon their only child.

 

The young man is expected to regain his freedom by early 2025.

Although Nigeria has not carried out an execution since 2012, over 3,400 individuals remain on death row across the country.