Retrospectively, what is a fowl? A domestic bird reared for consumption? Fowls are hardly kept as pets; their end points remain in the soup pot on fire. Let's assume Segun, as in the case mentioned, stole the fowl. Did he steal the fowl to keep as a pet or to consume? If the latter, did he steal the fowl out of desire to taste chicken meat or because he was hungry? Yet again, I would preferably go with the latter. So, he was sentenced to death for stealing a fowl, which probably was for the sake of consumption, sequel to hunger?
About a week or two ago, there was news of a man who was arrested for stealing a goat, which he killed and prepared to serve invited guests for his child's naming ceremony. Many questions here. How would the guests feel when they eventually found out that the meat consumed was from a stolen animal? How would the child feel later in life when she learns her father stole a goat for her naming? How would the society react to such a child in terms of stigma? I believe such a case should be handled by the court and the man sentenced accordingly; however, with some considerations. Perhaps the law judges the acts far more than intentions.
This is in total irony to conventional sentences for politicians who get convicted of stealing billions of Naira and end up with a few months of sentence and may not even step a foot into the prison yard as a result of affluence and connections. This diversion should be for yet another day. But then, is stealing to eat justified?
A crime is never justified because laws and orders are created to keep humanity in harmony. In addition, crime committed often means another individual or owner, as in the case of the fowl, is deprived of benefits or ownership, respectively.
But, in a bit to show impartiality and some level of consideration, I think crimes within reasonable ambient that get proven were as a result of dire hunger should be pardonable. Of course, unless we would rather watch such an individual perish under the anguish and peril of hunger.
Just as in the index case of Segun, as earlier mentioned, I believe such a sentence for the acclaimed crime is out of proportion. What happened to three months? Or to social services? At least he would be fed by the government while serving the punishment of cleaning the streets, other than hard labor or death sentence.
I am not in the judicial system and may not be able to say the extent and limits of the law, but clearly, the case of Segun and perhaps many others like him who are serving jail terms for similar purported crimes should be pardoned.
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.