Man who was sentenced to death for stealing fowls and eggs to receive pardon after 10 years

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke is scheduled to pardon Segun Olowookere, a Nigerian who has been on death row for more than ten years for stealing eggs and hens.

Olowookere and his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested in 2010 when they were just 17 years old.

They were charged with using a sword and an antiquated wooden gun to attack the residences of a police officer and another person. Even though the raid was dramatic, they only made their getaway with a few hens.

They were found guilty by Osun State High Court Justice Jide Falola in 2014 of breaking into the police officer’s home with force and taking his possessions.

Both received hanging sentences, which infuriated Nigerians, who criticized the sentencing as being unduly severe for the offence.

Later, the two were moved to the infamous Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos State, where they had been on death row for years.

In an interview with Biola Adebayo, Olowookere’s parents revealed that their son was falsely detained in 2010 for a crime he had not committed.

They clarified that when police officers visited their house, they unintentionally connected Segun to the theft of eggs and a chicken, which was not a crime in which he was involved.

According to Segun’s father, Olanrewaju, he was only able to raise N20,000, which was turned down when the police asked N30,000 for his son’s release. According to his parents, Segun was falsely charged, had no knowledge of the theft, and didn’t even eat chicken.

Olowookere’s parents, human rights groups, and concerned Nigerians have spearheaded the unrelenting campaign for his release.

On a well-known podcast, his parents recently made a heartfelt appeal for their son’s freedom.

The Commissioner for Justice was instructed to start the process of giving Olowookere a prerogative of compassion by Governor Adeleke, who eventually reacted on Tuesday.

“Osun is a land of justice and equity. We must ensure fairness and protect the sanctity of lives,” the governor wrote on X.