Edo State Government on Monday confirmed the execution of four convicted criminals.
The convicts were reportedly executed by hanging, a development that has elicited condemnation from Amnesty International.
The international human rights group,
in a statement, had called for restraint on the part of the Nigerian
government in carrying out the exercise.
When contacted, state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon, confirmed the execution.
He said their convictions were secured
years ago from the Supreme Court and that three of the executed
criminals were convicted outside the state, but had been in prison in
Benin.
On claims that there was a stay of
execution order, Idahagbon said his office got the stay of execution
papers, but that the execution was not carried out by his office.
The prison authorities, however, claimed they did not receive any stay of execution order.
Deputy Director for Africa, AI, Lucy
Freeman, said, “If confirmed, these executions mark a sudden, brutal
return to the use of the death penalty in Nigeria, a truly dark day for
human rights in the country.
“We again urge the Nigerian authorities
to stop all executions immediately and return to the moratorium on
execution in the country. We oppose the death penalty in all cases
without exception, as it is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading
punishment.”
Also, a legal rights group, Legal Defence Assistance Project, condemned the execution.
The group’s National Coordinator, Mr.
Chino Obiagwu, said the execution of the inmates was in violation of
the appeal he filed on behalf of all death row inmates in the country.
Obiagwu said, “Today, the LEDAP frowns
on the execution of four death row prisoners – Chima Ejiofor, Daniel
Nsofor, Osarenmwinda Aiguokhan and Richard Igagu – in Edo State despite
their pending appeals at the court of appeal.
“The AG of Edo State and the prison
authorities were duly served with the court processes, comprising the
notice of appeal and motion for stay of execution.”
Where were the human right group when GEJ urged Governors to be signing death warrant recently? Perhaps if they had condemned the demand then, Oshiomhole wouldnt have signed this. Am personally not comfortable with execution since i hate bloodshed but some criminals deserve nothing short of that considering the mayhem they commit. What punishment do people who pound infants in mortar for ritual purposes deserve? They should let to go and continue to eat our food in prison or be released and given chieftaincy title, abi? There are even worse offenders and my fear finally is that when execution is finally outlawed, jungle justice will become the order of the day.
ReplyDeleteBefore somebody is sentence to death there are allot of factors that have been considered. Ok let me ask this questions,the people that were killed brutally by this criminLs and murderes dont they desevre the right to life? Aperson that has sumarily killed up to 10 lnnocent people is that person fit to exist among normal human bieng?
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