The parents of Segun Olowookere, a young man sentenced to death for stealing fowls and eggs, have pleaded with Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to grant their son amnesty ahead of the governor’s second anniversary in office.
Segun Olowookere, an indigene of Osun State, was convicted by an Osun State High Court in Ikirun. He was 17 years old when he was sentenced to death for allegedly robbing a poultry farm in Oyan, a town in the Odo-Otin local government area of the state. His crime: stealing a fowl and some eggs.
Now, nearly a decade after his conviction, Segun’s parents are desperately seeking a pardon for their only son, who is currently held in the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos.
Mrs. Folashade Olowookere, Segun’s mother, spoke to newsmen on Thursday, expressing her heart-wrenching plea for mercy. “I want to plead with our amiable governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to please use his office to release my son,” she said, her voice full of emotion. “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.”
Mrs. Olowookere, speaking with the hope that Governor Adeleke would show mercy, added, “We must not allow him to waste the peak of his life within the four walls of the prison.”
The emotional appeal from Segun’s mother comes ahead of the second anniversary of Governor Adeleke’s administration. The parents are hoping that this milestone will serve as a time for compassion, as they desperately seek to see their son released from prison.
Segun’s father, Mr. Olanrewaju Olowookere, also shared his grief over his son’s situation. He claimed that Segun was wrongfully accused and arrested while innocently playing with friends in his shop. “At this point, all we need is the assistance of His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke to grant amnesty to our son,” he said. “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.”
Segun’s parents insist that their son is not a criminal. They argue that the incident leading to his arrest was a setup, with no real evidence to support the charges against him. According to them, Segun was simply at his shop, engaged in a harmless activity with friends, when he was arrested and charged with a crime he did not commit.
Their son’s conviction has cast a dark shadow over the family. As they struggle with the pain of having their only child imprisoned for nearly a decade, the Olowookeres are turning to the state government for help.
The parents have also appealed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adewale Egbedun, to intervene on their behalf. The Speaker hails from the same town as Segun, and the family believes his influence can help secure a pardon.
“We are also pleading for his intervention on this case. The Speaker of the House of Assembly is from our town,” Mrs. Olowookere said, expressing hope that the Speaker would lend his support. “Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice should also help us. Segun has a promising future and can be useful to society.”
For the Olowookeres, their son’s potential remains a beacon of hope. They describe him as a brilliant young man who had the potential to contribute positively to society. Yet, they fear his life may be wasted in prison, robbed of the chance to fulfill his potential.
The family’s appeal for mercy highlights the harsh realities of Nigeria’s justice system, particularly for young people caught in situations that spiral beyond their control. Many have questioned the fairness of Segun’s conviction, especially given the circumstances surrounding his arrest and the alleged lack of concrete evidence.
Segun’s parents are not the only ones advocating for a rethinking of his case. Over the years, there has been growing concern about the overuse of the death penalty in Nigeria, especially in cases involving young offenders. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have frequently called for a moratorium on the death penalty, citing the potential for errors in the judicial process, particularly in cases like Segun’s.