Death by Hanging

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has stepped in to review the death sentence of a young man

convicted of stealing a fowl. The case has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning the severity of the punishment for what's considered a relatively minor offense. The young man was arrested in 2010 and sentenced to death by hanging in 2014, and has since spent 14 years in jail.

Adeleke has directed the state's attorney general and commissioner for justice to launch a full investigation into the case and initiate processes to grant the young man a prerogative of mercy. This move is seen as a positive step towards ensuring fairness and protecting the sanctity of lives in Osun State.

Some social media users have pointed out that theft itself doesn't warrant a death sentence, unless there are additional elements like the use of weapons, making it qualify as armed robbery. However, in this case, it's unclear if there were any such aggravating factors ¹.

The incident has also raised questions about the disparity in punishment for different crimes in Nigeria. As Uncle_Olu_ noted, "Imagine a country where someone spent 14 years in jail and was sentenced to death by hanging because he stole fowl... but someone who stole over N80b was just given a N500m fine." This highlights the need for a fair and just legal system that applies equally to all citizens.