Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State is seeking a pardon for a young man who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 for allegedly stealing a fowl and eggs.

In a statement on X.com on Tuesday, Adeleke instructed the state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice to investigate the case and begin the process of granting the young man a pardon.

He wrote, “I have received the report of a case of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun State for stealing a fowl.

“Consequently, I have directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, to commence a full investigation into the matter and initiate processes to grant prerogative of mercy to the young man.

“Osun is a land of justice and equity and must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives. I assure members of the public that this matter is receiving my direct attention with every sense of urgency also attached to our response to the matter.”

The case gained widespread attention after the parents of the victim, in an interview with Nigerian actress Biola Adebayo, claimed that officials from the Osun police command arrested Olowookere for a crime he did not commit.

The victim’s parents, Olanrewaju and Folashade Olowookere, stated that their son, who was 17 at the time of his arrest and has spent over 14 years in prison since his sentencing, does not eat chicken because his mother trained broilers.

“We later found out some students from Segun’s school were in their vehicle, and they said they were arrested because of the theft of a chicken and eggs,” the mother said.

“Truth be told, Segun does not eat chicken. Because I trained broilers. He refused to run away, telling us that he didn’t know anything about the theft of the chicken.

“They came back around 9 pm in the night, and he was eventually arrested. It was when I visited the station that I knew who owned the chicken and eggs. He was just like a brother to me.