Segun Olowookere, an Osun state teenager who was sentenced to death by hanging for stealing a chicken and eggs in 2010, has regained freedom.
On December 26, Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun state, granted pardon to 53 convicts, including Olowookere, a young man convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to death in 2014.
In a statement on Thursday, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed that Olowookere was pardoned alongside his accomplice, Sunday Morakinyo.
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“In line with the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto 53 convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service,” Adeleke said.
“In the case of inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences of the following 30 (thirty ) inmates in whole.
“I have also decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to the following 12 (twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.
“In the case of the following 6 (six) convicts sentenced to death, I have approved the commutation of their sentence from death to outright release while Ojekunle Timothy has his sentence commuted from death sentence to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment having spent at least 10 (ten) years in custody.
“The following 4 (four) convicts also have their sentences commuted from death sentence to outright pardon: Sunday Morakinyo, Segun Olowookere, Tunde Olapade, Demola Odeyemi.”
But, the Osun State Judiciary has clarified that they were convicted for armed robbery, including robbing a poultry in 2010.
In 2010, Olowookere and his accomplice were arrested for breaking into the homes of a police officer and another person.
In 2014, Justice Falola of the Osun State High Court sentenced the duo to death by hanging after they were found guilty of breaking into the officer’s house and stealing his property.
Recall that Biola Adebayo, a Nigerian actress, granted a viral interview to Olowookere’s parents and they accused some police officers in the state for wrongful arrest and detention of Olowookere.
Olanrewaju, his father, alleged that a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), requested money for his release, but the inability to pay resulted in his son’s wrongful imprisonment.
In a video on Monday, the actress was seen standing in front of Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison with Olowookere.
She appreciated the Osun state governor for granting Olowookere pardon.
She thanked Nigerians for their support, adding that prison officials commended Olowookere for his good conduct throughout his stay.
“This is Segun Olowookere, we are just leaving Kirikiri. He is finally out of the correctional centre. Thank you so much for the love and support that we got,” she said.
“Segun is a very good guy. The testimonies at the correctional centre were amazing. We are glad that he is out now for good.
“Thank you to Governor Ademola Adeleke, we are grateful.”
