Segun Olowookere, a Nigerian man who has spent 10 years on death row for stealing hens and eggs, will be pardoned by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Olowookere was just 17 years old in 2010 when he and an accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested for breaking into the homes of a police officer and another individual. Armed with a wooden gun and a sword, the pair reportedly stole only poultry.
In 2014, the Osun State High Court sentenced both men to death by hanging, sparking widespread outrage across Nigeria. Critics called the sentence disproportionately harsh.
On Tuesday, Governor Adeleke announced his intention to pardon Olowookere, citing the importance of justice and the sanctity of life.
“I have directed the Commissioner for Justice to initiate processes to grant prerogative of mercy to the young man,” the governor posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Osun is a land of justice and equity. We must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives.”
Olowookere’s release is expected in early 2025. However, the fate of his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, remains unclear as his name was not mentioned in the governor’s statement.
Since the conviction, Olowookere’s parents, human rights groups, and concerned Nigerians have campaigned tirelessly for his release. His parents recently appeared on a podcast, tearfully pleading for clemency for their only child.
Olowookere has spent the last decade in Lagos State’s notorious Kirikiri maximum-security prison on death row.
While Nigeria has not carried out an execution since 2012, the country has over 3,400 people on death row. Human rights advocates argue that many death sentences, such as Olowookere’s, are unjust and call for urgent reforms to the justice system.
