Adeleke pardons boy sentenced to death for stealing chicken, 52 others
Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Olajide Idowu
One Segun Olowokere who was sentenced to death for stealing chicken and eggs at the age of 17 in 2010 was one of the 53 convicts pardoned by Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke on Friday.
An Osun State High Court, sitting in Ikirun, convicted Olowokere alongside some others, for robbing a poultry farm in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
However, the death sentence on the boy for stealing chickens had attracted criticisms after it recently became public.
Adeleke, in a statement by his Spokesperson Olawale Rasheed on Thursday, said the order to pardon Olowokere and others was in line with the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
He said the recommendation by the council is to mark the 2024 Christmas celebration.
“Gov. Ademola Adeleke has exercised the prerogative of mercy towards 53 convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“The letter of commutation, dated Dec. 24 has since been received and acknowledged by the relevant prison authorities,” he said.
He said the inmates recommended for the ‘prerogative of mercy’ are inmates convicted of simple offences who have served substantial portions of their sentences.
According to him, the prerogative of mercy also extends to convicts sentenced to death but have spent a minimum of 10 years in custody.
“In the case of the 30 inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences in whole.
“Whereas, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to 12 inmates convicted of simple offences.
“Four convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright pardon.
“And whereas I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to commute the sentences as follows, one convict has his sentence commuted from death to 15 years imprisonment.
“Six convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright release,” he said.
