Back in 2010, Segun Olowookere, who was 17 at the time, along with his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, was apprehended after they broke into a policeman’s home and made away with some hens and eggs.
In 2014, the Osun State High Court’s Justice Jide Falola found the two guilty of foreceful entry and stealing, and he sentenced them to death by hanging.
After the ruling, Nigerians went into an uproar as they deemed the sentencing too harsh.
Both convicts were then sent to the death row ward of the infamous Kirikiri high-security prison in Lagos state.
However, in a recent development, as seen on BBC Africa, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, ordered the pardon of Segun Olowookere.
This order was made public via a statement on Tuesday, saying it was crucial to preserve life.
“I have directed the Commissioner for Justice to initiate processes to grant the 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,” the governor posted on X.
Olowookere’s parents, human rights groups and other Nigerians had since his imprisonment been advocating for a lighter punishment.
His parents were featured on a podcast recently where they pleaded for their only child to be pardoned, a move some believe spurred the governor’s response.
“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,” his mother had pleaded, as per the OsunDefender.
“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,” she added.
As for Segun’s accomplice, Morakinyo, his fate is yet to be decided, as was not included in the governor’s statement.
As per the BBC’s report, there are currently 3400 inmates on death row, despite the fact that the West African country has kept its hands clean of any criminal executions in the last 12 years.
