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| Olowookere |
Segun Olowookere, arrested at 17 for stealing chickens and eggs, has spent 10 years on death row in Nigeria.
Convicted in 2014 alongside accomplice Morakinyo Sunday for breaking into a policeman’s home with rudimentary weapons, their death sentence sparked outrage as excessively harsh.
Now 31, Olowookere has been promised a pardon by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who emphasized justice and the sanctity of life.
His parents’ emotional pleas and advocacy by human rights groups played a key role. Olowookere’s release is expected in early 2025.
In a report by the BBC, the duo were in 2014, sentenced to death by hanging bus Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court after finding them guilty of forcefully breaking into the police officer's house and stealing his belongings.
Following an outcry across Nigeria at the time by many who felt the sentence was too harsh, the duo were subsequently moved to the notorious Kirikiri maximum security prison in Lagos state where they've been in the death row wing.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, governor Ademola Adeleke directed that Olowookere should be pardoned as it was important to protect the sanctity of life.
"I have directed the Commissioner for Justice to initiate processes to grant prerogative of mercy to the young man.
"Osun is a land of justice and equity. We must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives," the governor posted on X.
The fate of Morakinyo Sunday, who was sentenced alongside Olowookere, is however unclear as his name wasn't mentioned in the statement.
For years, Olowookere's parents, human rights groups and other Nigerians have fought for his release.
His parents were recently on a podcast where they cried and begged for their only child to be pardoned.
It is worthy to note that Nigeria has not carried out an execution since 2012 but there are currently more than 3,400 people on death row.
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