Osun Governor Pardons Man Sentenced To Death For Chicken Theft

Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun State, has pardoned Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 for allegedly stealing a chicken and eggs.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Adeleke extended the prerogative of mercy to 53 convicts, including Olowookere and his co-defendant, Sunday Morakinyo.

Olowookere’s case recently gained widespread attention after his parents shared their story in an interview with Nigerian actress Biola Adebayo. They alleged that Olowookere was wrongfully arrested by officers of the Osun police command.

Olanrewaju, his father, claimed a divisional police officer demanded N30,000 for his son’s release, but he could only raise N20,000 at the time. The parents appealed to Nigerians for help, leading to public outcry over the case.

In response to the uproar, Adeleke ordered the attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Osun to launch a thorough investigation into the matter, culminating in the governor’s decision to grant clemency.