Gov Adeleke Pardons Man Sentenced To Death For ‘Stealing Fowl’
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, the governor revealed that Olowookere and his accomplice, Sunday Morakinyo, had been pardoned.
On social media, the allegation that the pair received a death sentence for snatching a bird went widespread. However, the Osun State Judiciary has clarified that they were found guilty of armed robbery in 2010, which included stealing chickens.
According to the governor, the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy’s recommendations led to the pardoning of 51 further prisoners.
“I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy to 53 convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service in accordance with the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and in exercise of the power conferred upon 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),” Adeleke stated.
In accordance with the aforementioned advice, I have made the decision to remit and forgive the remaining sentences of the following 30 (thirty) offenders who have been found guilty of trivial offenses.
In line with the aforementioned advice, I have also made the decision to completely pardon the 12 (twelve) prisoners who have been found guilty of minor offenses.
“I have authorized the commutation of the death sentences of the following six (six) prisoners to unconditional release, and Ojekunle Timothy’s sentence has been reduced from death to fifteen (fifteen) years in jail after he served at least ten (10) years in prison.
“The sentences of the following four (four) prisoners have also been commuted from death to complete pardon: Sunday Morakinyo, Segun Olowookere, Tunde Olapade, and Demola Odeyemi.”
In 2010, Olowookere and his partner were taken into custody for breaking into the residences of a police officer and another individual.
The two were found guilty of breaking into the officer’s home and taking his belongings, and in 2014, Osun State High Court Justice Falola condemned them to death by hanging.
