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A Nigerian man who has spent 10 years on death row for stealing some hens and eggs has been promised a pardon by the governor of the south-western Osun state, Nigeria.
In 2014, Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court sentenced the two to death by hanging after finding them guilty of forcefully breaking into the police officer’s house and stealing his belongings.
In a statement on Tuesday, governor Ademola Adeleke directed that the convict should be pardoned as it was important to protect the sanctity of life.
I have directed the Commissioner for Justice to initiate processes to grant the prerogative of mercy to the young man, he said.
The convict was 17 years old in 2010 when he was arrested along with his accomplice.
The fate of the accomplice, who was sentenced alongside with his friend, is unclear as his name wasn’t mentioned in the statement.
For years, the young man’s parents, human rights groups and other Nigerians have fought for his release.
He is expected to be freed early in 2025.
Nigeria has not carried out an execution since 2012 but there are currently more than 3,400 people on death row.
