Gov Adeleke grants pardon to man sentenced to death for stealing fowl, 52 others

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has pardoned Segun Olowookere and his accomplice, Sunday Morakinyo, who were sentenced to death for armed robbery in 2010.

The news sparked outrage on social media, with many believing the duo received the harsh sentence for stealing a fowl.

However, the Osun State Judiciary clarified that the conviction was actually for armed robbery, including robbing a poultry.

Olowookere’s case gained widespread attention after his mother, Folashade Olowookere, shared his story on a YouTube podcast.

Governor Adeleke intervened, directing the Attorney General to initiate processes for prerogative of mercy.

The pardon is part of a broader effort by the governor, with 51 other inmates also receiving pardons based on recommendations from the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

“In line with the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto 53 convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service,” Adeleke said.

“In the case of inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences of the following 30 (thirty ) inmates in whole.

“I have also decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to the following 12 (twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.

“In the case of the following 6 (six) convicts sentenced to death, I have approved the commutation of their sentence from death to outright release while Ojekunle Timothy has his sentence commuted from death sentence to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment having spent at least 10 (ten) years in custody.

“The following 4 (four) convicts also have their sentences commuted from death sentence to outright pardon: Sunday Morakinyo, Segun Olowookere, Tunde Olapade, Demola Odeyemi.”

Olowookere and his accomplice were arrested in 2010 for breaking into the homes of a police officer and another person.

In 2014, Justice Falola of the Osun State High Court sentenced the duo to death by hanging after they were found guilty of breaking into the officer’s house and stealing his property.