By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death for stealing chicken in Nigeria’s South-West state of Osun, has been granted a pardon, state Governor Ademola Adeleke announced in the exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy.
“The following 4 (four) convicts also have their sentences commuted from death sentence to outright pardon: Sunday Morakinyo, Segun Olowookere, Tunde Olapade, Demola Odeyemi,” the governor disclosed in a statement on X on Thursday, referring to Olowookere, his accomplice Sunday Morakinyo, and others.
The duo were arrested in 2010 for breaking into the homes of a police officer and one other person, where the act was allegedly committed.
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.
The case, however, was brought to public attention recently, attracting public outcry after the duo had spent 14 years in jail.
The governor also pardoned 51 other inmates following 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 the 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 30 (thirty) inmates in whole.
“I have also decided, in accordance with the said recommendation, to grant outright pardon to 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 death sentence is still contained in Nigeria’s constitution but is hardly implemented due to human rights concerns.
Governors fear criticism and are often reluctant to sign death sentences for implementation.
Several African countries are beginning to remove death sentences from their constitutions, a development Amnesty International has applauded.
