The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has promised to pardon a man sentenced to death for stealing a fowl in the state.
Adeleke stated this in a Wednesday statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
The governor ordered the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice to intervene in the matter and ensure the young man is listed for prerogative of mercy before the end of the year.
“I have received the report of a case of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun state for stealing a fowl.
“Consequently, I have directed the attorney general and commissioner for justice, Osun state, to commence full investigation into the matter and initiate processes to grant prerogative of mercy to the young man,” the Osun governor announced.
Mr Adeleke added, “Osun is a land of justice and equity and must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives. I assure members of the public that this matter is receiving my direct attention with every sense of urgency also attached to our response to the matter.”
According to reports, an Osun State High Court, sitting in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government of the state, sentenced Segun Olowookere, who was 17 years old at that time, for robbing a poultry farm in Oyan, Odo-Otin local government.
Segun who was convicted to death for stealing a fowl and eggs is currently in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.
Earlier, Segun’s mother, Mrs Folashade Olowookere while in a podcast appealed to Governor Adeleke to grant his son amnesty.
“I want to plead with our amiable governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke to please use his office to release my son. We have sold our properties to secure his release since he was convicted in 2014. He is a brilliant boy who has a brighter future ahead of him. We must not allow him to waste the peak of his life within the four walls of the prison.
“The speaker of the House of Assembly is from our town, we also plead for his intervention on this case. Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice should also help us. Segun has a promising future and can be useful to society,” the mother pleaded.
Segun’s father, Mr Olanrewaju Olowookere, who also pleaded for mercy for his son, said Segun was never involved in a crime.
The father claimed that his son was arrested in his shop while playing with some of his friends, saying the arrest was a setup.
He said, “At this point, all we need is the assistance of His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke to grant amnesty to our son. We have been in grief since he was sentenced. We have not experienced any kind of happiness. Nobody will be happy seeing his only son in jail.”
