Fact-check: Was a Teenager Sentenced to Death for Stealing ‘Fowl’ in Osun State?
Claim: Circulating claims on social media assert that a teenager was sentenced to death in Osun State ten years ago for stealing poultry birds.
Context: The controversy gained renewed attention when Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke directed the State Commissioner of Justice to investigate a case involving a young man sentenced to death, purportedly for stealing fowl. In a statement, the governor called for a review of the case and the initiation of a pardon, sparking widespread discussion.
Mainstream media reports followed, with sensational headlines suggesting the sentencing was linked to the theft of a fowl. Examples include:
“Governor vows pardon for teenager sentenced to death for stealing fowl after 14 years in jail.”
“Controversy trails pardon for Osun man facing death penalty for fowl thefts.”
Verification: To verify the accuracy of the claims, PRNigeria conducted an extensive investigation into the case.
Findings:
- The Case Details: A 2014 media report on the judgment clarified that the case involved armed robbery rather than petty theft.
The convicts, Olowookere Segun and Morakinyo Sunday, were arrested in 2010 and sentenced in 2014.
Evidence presented during the trial included:
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The convicts breaking into the home of a police officer, Mr. Balogun Tope, armed with a cutlass and a dane gun.
Theft of valuables, including fowls, broilers, eggs, and kegs of vegetable oil from multiple victims.
Confessions by the convicts regarding repeated acts of robbery.
- Judicial Ruling: Justice Jide Falola of the Osun State High Court convicted the defendants on three counts:
Conspiracy: Death sentence by hanging, per the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004.
Robbery: Life imprisonment.
Stealing: Three years’ imprisonment.
Justice Falola recommended that the death sentence could be commuted to a 10-year term, considering the ages and circumstances of the convicts.
- Statements by Legal Experts: Legal professionals familiar with the case, especially Akinwole Olasubomi, emphasized that the conviction was not for stealing fowl alone but for armed robbery, a crime significantly graver than portrayed in public discourse. https://sahelstandard.com/news/18/re-death-by-hanging-for-stealing-fowl/
- Public Misrepresentation: The sensational headlines suggesting a death sentence for “fowl theft” misrepresent the facts. While poultry theft was part of the case, the primary offense was armed robbery involving multiple victims and criminal intent.
Conclusion: PRNigeria’s investigation confirms that while a teenager was sentenced to death in Osun State, the conviction stemmed from armed robbery and conspiracy, not merely the theft of a fowl.
The claim that the 17-year-old was sentenced to death solely for stealing poultry is therefore MISLEADING.
