The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has criticised Nigeria’s legal system for what he described as “harsh inequalities” in the administration of justice.

Obi’s remarks followed a controversial theft case involving Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death for stealing a fowl in Osun State.

In 2010, at just 17 years old, Olowookere and his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested for breaking into the homes of a police officer and another individual.

After years of legal proceedings, Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court sentenced the duo to death by hanging in 2014, finding them guilty of forcibly entering the police officer’s home and stealing his belongings.

The case has sparked widespread debate among Nigerians, prompting the intervention of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The governor directed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to investigate the case fully and initiate processes for granting Olowookere a prerogative of mercy.

In a statement, Adeleke said, “Osun is a land of justice and equity, and we 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 attached to our response.”

Reacting to the development on Friday via his X handle, Obi commended Governor Adeleke’s intervention while condemning the disparities in the Nigerian judicial system.

He wrote, “I commend Governor Ademola Adeleke for stepping in to prevent the inhumane punishment of death by hanging for the theft of a fowl and eggs—an offence for which the individual had already spent 14 years in prison.

“That sentence alone far exceeded the demands of justice, if the crime warranted such consideration in the first place.

“This case underscores the harsh inequalities of the Nigerian legal system. If you dare to speak freely, you are treated as a criminal and silenced. If you embezzle billions of public funds, you are celebrated, even when caught and taken to court. Yet, those pursuing honest, legitimate businesses are burdened by oppressive regulations and treated with suspicion, as though success through integrity is a crime.”

In an interview on the Talk To B show, hosted by actress Abiola Adebayo and aired on Tuesday, Olowookere’s parents recounted their ordeal and expressed hope for justice after over a decade of legal battles.

They described the events leading to their son’s conviction and the subsequent hardships endured, insisting that he was wrongfully convicted.