Osun State Governor Adeleke Advocates for Pardon of Young Man Sentenced to Death for Theft
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, is taking steps to seek a pardon for a young man who received a death sentence by hanging in 2010 for allegedly stealing a fowl and some eggs. In a statement shared on X.com on Tuesday, Adeleke directed the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to launch an investigation into the case and initiate the process for the young man’s clemency.
“I have been informed about the case of a young man sentenced to death for reportedly stealing a chicken in Osun State,” Adeleke remarked. “As a result, I have instructed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to conduct a thorough investigation and begin the necessary steps to grant a prerogative of mercy.”
The governor emphasized that Osun is a region that values justice and equity, expressing the need to ensure fairness and the protection of all lives. He assured the public that he is personally overseeing the matter with a sense of urgency.
The case has attracted considerable attention following an interview with the victim’s parents, Olanrewaju and Folashade Olowookere, conducted by Nigerian actress Biola Adebayo. They claimed that their son, who was just 17 years old at the time of his arrest, was wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit, and has endured over 14 years in prison since his sentencing.
In their account, the couple revealed that their son, who does not eat chicken due to his mother raising broilers, was unwittingly implicated after being arrested alongside students from his school. “I later learned that some of his classmates were taken in a police vehicle because of the chicken and egg theft,” the mother stated. “Segun has never liked chicken. He stood firm, insisting he was innocent, and when I visited the police station, I discovered who owned the fowl.”
The family continues to advocate for justice, as calls for the young man’s release gain momentum in the community.
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