Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has granted a pardon to Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 for stealing a chicken and eggs.
In a statement on Thursday, Adeleke exercised his power of mercy, pardoning 53 convicts, including Olowookere. His co-defendant, Sunday Morakinyo, was also granted a pardon.
Olowookere’s case gained widespread attention after an interview with his parents, in which they claimed he was wrongfully arrested by Osun police officers. His father, Olanrewaju, revealed that a divisional police officer had demanded N30,000 for his son’s release, though he could only raise N20,000 at the time. The family appealed for public intervention, sparking further outcry.
Following this, Adeleke ordered the attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Osun to launch a full investigation into the matter.
The Case
In 2010, Olowookere and Morakinyo were accused of armed robbery after being arrested while allegedly robbing a poultry farm, with weapons reportedly recovered. In December 2014, they were sentenced to death by hanging, as armed robbery was punishable by death in Osun.
List of Pardoned Inmates
Adeleke also remitted the sentences of 30 inmates convicted of minor offenses, including:
- Olubo Sunday
- Isah Umar Biodun
- Fawas Kareem
… and 27 more.
Additionally, 12 inmates convicted of simple offenses were granted outright pardons, such as:
- Olabomiji Nurudeen
- Mustapha Isah
- Olalekan Abdullahi
… and 9 others.
Six death row convicts were freed:
- Oluwafemi Fagbemi
- Bewaji Sunday
- Amehin George
… and 3 others.
Four death row inmates, including Olowookere and Morakinyo, were granted full pardons.
