Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has granted a pardon to Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 for allegedly stealing a chicken and eggs.
In a statement released on Thursday, Adeleke exercised his prerogative of mercy to pardon 53 convicts, including Olowookere. Among those granted clemency was Olowookere’s co-defendant, Sunday Morakinyo.
Olowookere’s case recently gained widespread attention after a viral interview featuring his parents sparked public outrage. In an interview with Nigerian actress Biola Adebayo, Olowookere’s parents alleged that he was wrongfully arrested for an offence he did not commit.
Olanrewaju, Olowookere’s father, recounted how police officers from the Osun command detained his son and demanded N30,000 for his release. He explained that he could only raise N20,000 at the time, leaving the family unable to secure their son’s freedom. Following this, Olowookere’s parents publicly appealed to Nigerians for assistance in resolving their son’s plight.
The viral video prompted Governor Adeleke to order a full investigation into the matter, led by the attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Osun State.
Case Background
In 2010, Olowookere and Morakinyo were arraigned for alleged armed robbery after being accused of robbing a poultry farm. Arms were reportedly recovered during their arrest.
By December 2014, both men were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging, as the offence of armed robbery carried a mandatory death penalty under Osun State law at the time.
Full List of Pardoned Individuals
Governor Adeleke also commuted the sentences of 30 inmates convicted of minor offences:
1. Olubo Sunday
2. Isah Umar Biodun
3. Fawas Kareem
4. Omirin Temitayo
5. Olarenwaju Ayomide
6. Dare Sunday
7. Oladapo Tunde
8. Ganiyu Saheed
9. Adewumi Sodiq
10. Adebayo Adeoye Kehinde
11. Lasis Kazeem
12. Dauda Ojo (59 YEARS)
13. Ismaila Raji
14. Oseni Micheal
15. Ajayi Korede
16. Abiona Nurudeen
17. Oshi Samuel
18. Sheu Yusuf Olatunji
19. Ojo Aanu
20. Mustapha Kehinde
21. Lasis Abeeb
22. Alexandra Iorlaha
23. Ojo Taiwo
24. Azeez Mujeeb
25. Akinyemi David
26. Adeosun Adekunle
27. Olaobaju Samuel
28. Adura Adefemi
29. Paul Basil
30. Kunle David
Additionally, 12 inmates convicted for minor offences were granted outright pardons:
1. Olabomiji Nurudeen
2. Mustapha Isah
3. Olalekan Abdullahi
4. Ayomide Olojede
5. Akeem Raphael
6. Adeyemi Abiodun
7. Oladipupo Segun
8. Omisakin Sunday
9. Ademola Adio
10. Tunde Olapade
11. Late Chief Wole Ola Rufus Ojo
12. Omoloye Olajide Olayemi
Six inmates on death row also regained their freedom:
1. Oluwafemi Fagbemi
2. Bewaji Sunday
3. Amehin George
4. Ayomide Arulogun
5. Taiwo Oluwatobi Stephen
6. Abubakar Abdulazeez
Furthermore, four individuals sentenced to death received outright pardons:
1. Sunday Morakinyo
2. Segun Olowookere
3. Tunde Olapade
4. Demola Odeyemi
