KANO — 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 southwestern Osun state.

Segun Olowookere was 17 years old in 2010 when he was arrested along with his accomplice, Morakinyo Sunday.

They were said to have attacked the home of a police officer and another person with an old-fashioned wooden gun and a sword but only got away with the poultry.

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.

There was an outcry across Nigeria at the time as many felt the sentence was too harsh.

The duo were subsequently moved to the notorious Kirikiri maximum security prison in Lagos state where they've been in the death row wing.

In a statement on Tuesday, Governor Ademola Adeleke directed that Olowookere 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.

"Osun is a land of justice and equity. We must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives," the governor posted on X.

The fate of Morakinyo Sunday, who was sentenced alongside Olowookere, is unclear as his name wasn't mentioned in the statement.

For years, Olowookere's parents, human rights groups and other Nigerians have fought for his release.

His parents were recently on a podcast where they cried and begged for their only child to be pardoned.

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. — BBC