Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has granted pardon to Olowookere Segun, who was sentenced to death by hanging for stealing fowl and eggs when he was 17 years.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Adeleke directed immediate investigation and pardoning action on the case of Segun, according to a statement released by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Governor.
In the statement on Tuesday evening, the Governor ordered the Attorney General to intervene in the matter and ensure the youngman is listed for prerogative of mercy before the end of the year.
“I have read about the case. I recognize separation of powers in our democracy. In this particular case,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. I assure the public that the matter is receiving my direct attention. A sense of urgency is also attached to our response to the matter as a responsible state government”, the Governor was quoted to have said.
TNG gathered that Segun, 17 years old at that time, along with one Morakinyo Sunday were sentenced to death by hanging by a high court sitting in Okuku, Osun State.
The convicts were found guilty of forcefully breaking into the house of one Mr. Balogun Tope, a police officer attached to Divisional Police headquarters, Okuku, in April 2010 and carting away some of his belongings.
Consequently, they were apprehended and charged with conspiracy, robbery and stealing contrary to Section 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of Robbery and Firearm (Special Provisions) Act, cap R 11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section (390)(1) Criminal Code Law, Cap 34, Laws of Osun State, 2002.
The prosecution team, led by the state Solicitor-General, Mrs Abiola Adewemimo, called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits during the prosecution.
The prosecution told the court that on November 13, 2010, some men were sighted around Balogun’s home armed with cutlass and a dane gun, and that while two of them were arrested, others escaped.
The convicts were said to have confessed that they stole the complainant’s fowls, adding that they had been in his house before to steal.
Adewemimo said: “They also stated that they had earlier robbed Alhaja Umani Oyewo in her house and stole broilers, eggs and kegs of vegetable oil from the house”.
After listening to all the parties involved, Justice Jide Falola who was in charge of the case convicted them on only three counts: to death for conspiracy; life sentence for robbery, and three years imprisonment for stealing.
Justice Falola recommended that the governor can decide to commute the death sentence to 10 years imprisonment, considering the convicts’ ages.
Meanwhile, Segun’s father, Mr Olanrewaju Olowookere, while pleading for mercy for his son recently, said Segun was never involved in a crime.
The father claimed that his son was arrested in his shop while playing with some of his friends, saying the arrest was a setup.
He said: “At this point, all we need is the assistance of His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke to grant amnesty to our son. We have been in grief since he was sentenced. We have not experienced any kind of happiness. Nobody will be happy seeing his only son in jail”.
Also, the mother of Segun, Mrs Folashade Olowookere, while earlier appealing for mercy for her son, disclosed that Segun has graduated from an undisclosed university after studying medicine from the prison.
“I want to plead with our amiable governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke to please use his office to release my son. We have sold our properties to secure his release since he was convicted in 2014.
“He is a brilliant boy who has a brighter future ahead of him. We must not allow him to waste the peak of his life within the four walls of the prison,” Mrs Olowookere said.
TNG gathers that Segun, the only son of his parents, is currently serving time in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.