In a statement signed by the Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, the Presidency categorically refuted the claims, describing them as inaccurate and urging the public to disregard such information.

The statement emphasized that no pardons whatsoever have been granted by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

This clarification follows the circulation of an earlier document purportedly from the same office, which listed individuals allegedly pardoned by the President.

The individuals named in the document included Ato Essien, Philip Assibit and other persons convicted of offenses ranging from financial crimes to narcotics possession and human trafficking.

The Office of the President urged the public  to rely solely on verified communications.

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.

A former Chief executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has said he never attached credence to a presidential pardon he received in 2009 while serving a five-year jail term.

Tsatsu Tsikata said he had applied for bail pending appeal of the crime he was imprisoned for, and although the trial judge refused that application, the Appeals Court reversed the decision in December 2008, the same year he was imprisoned.

“…the matter was referred back to the High Court and in January or February 2009, another High Court granted bail,” he told Joy News’ Gifty Andoh Appiah, Monday.

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Mr Tsikata was refuting some reports that had suggested that he refused the pardon handed to him by the then President John Agyekum Kufuor but had walked free all the while.

According to Mr Tsikata, the prisons officials who were deployed to the hospital were withdrawn after the pardon.

“So I couldn’t have driven back to Nswam Prison to submit myself, my lovely wife drove me back home when the hospital discharged me,” he said.

Since then he has been in a legal path to have his name cleared by the courts. He stated that a font size gaffe also contributed to the delay of the case.

“At that time…the judges determined that the font size was too small and it had to be redone. Unfortunately, it took another six years…,” he said.

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In July 2016, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawyer was cleared of the charges and was acquitted and discharged.

“So I didn’t rely on the pardon in any way. I rejected the pardon and went through the legal process [and] got my bail pending appeal…” he said.

Speaking of how he engaged himself during the period, Mr Tsikata said he was involved in the oil and gas sector.

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