Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has intervened in a controversial legal case involving a death sentence for a petty theft who allegedly stole a fowl.
It was gathered that the suspect was sentenced to death.
However, the governor highlighted the severity of the punishment in relation to the alleged crime and called for a comprehensive review of the judicial proceedings.
Through an official communication on the social media platform X, Adeleke instructed the state’s attorney general and justice commissioner to conduct a thorough examination of the case.
He furthermore directed the initiation of legal procedures to potentially offer the defendant clemency, expressing concern about the proportionality of the punishment to the reported offense.
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.”
Meanwhile, the case has drawn significant public scrutiny in Osun State. The individual in question was reportedly apprehended in 2010 and subsequently convicted of stealing poultry, resulting in a death sentence by hanging in 2014.
The judicial outcome has sparked extensive debate regarding the proportionality of capital punishment for what many perceive as a relatively minor criminal act.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have expressed concern about the apparent disparity between the alleged theft and the extreme judicial response.
Uncle_Olu_ commenting on the governor’s statement, wrote on X.com, “Imagine a country where someone spent 14 years in jail and was sentenced to death by hanging because he stole fowl. Fowl… but someone who stole over N80b was just given a N500m fine.”
Sholisea also tweeted on X, “Sentencing someone to death because he stole a fowl is the height of it in this country.”
Some commentators emphasize that under standard judicial interpretations, simple theft does not inherently justify a death sentence. The potential for such a severe punishment typically requires additional aggravating circumstances, such as the presence of weapons or evidence of violent conduct that would elevate the offense to a more serious category like armed robbery.
Sharing a news report of the case in 2014, #TheYemiKing wrote on X, “Even if you steal ₦20 and you carry a knife, it’s armed robbery. The case is from 2014. The judge must give a death sentence, as that’s what the law says.
“But the judge recommended that the governor can commute the death sentence. Why didn’t Aregbe?”
