SHOCKING NEWS; FG must stop death sentence – AI, International human rights organisation, Amnesty International, and eight Nigerian civil society organisations have called on authorities in Nigeria to immediately stop all plans to further execute death row inmates in the country. They said the country should return to a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the organisations condemned the execution of Chima Ejiofor, Daniel Nsofor, Osarenmwinda Aiguokhan and Richard Igagu on June 24, 2013, “without regard for due process and without giving prior notice to their families or lawyers.” The organisations addedthat contrary to international standards on the use of the death penalty, the bodies of the four inmates executed had not been returned to their families for burial or the location of their graves made known. The statement read in part, “The undersigned organisations oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. The organisations are concerned that under international minimum standards for the use of the death penalty, Nigeria uses the death penalty in a way that is incompatible with its human rights obligations. “In recent weeks, many government officials have pointed to the fact that the death penalty inNigeria is mandatory in cases of murder, armed robbery and certain cases of treason. “The undersigned organisations are callingon Nigeria to take specific steps to move towards abolition. Both the federal and state governments should start by putting in place immediately an official moratorium on executions.” They further explained that one Thankgod Ebhos escaped executionbecause the prison authorities realised that his death sentence required a firing squad, after dragging him to the gallows. The statement added, “The organisations are deeply concerned that Thankgod Ebhos, who was nearly executed on June 24, 2013, when four other men were hanged in Benin City Prison in Edo State, is still at risk after unconfirmed reports that the authorities in Edo State are planning to ask a court to change the method of his execution from firing squad to hanging. “There were also reportsthat the inmates executed were beaten by the prison officers before they were executed and that no medical care was given. The prison authorities inBenin City have neither confirmed nor denied these allegations. “The organisations are concerned that the authorities in Benin Prison may still execute Thankgod Ebhos,” the statement added. They faulted the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and others’ claim that the death penalty had a deterrent effect on murder rates, saying, “There is no convincing evidence that the death penalty has a particularly deterrent effect compared to other formsof punishment.”
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 03:43:28 +0000
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