With 20 women and 1,014 men awaiting
execution in Nigeria, the country is rated among the top 10 nations having its
citizens and foreigners on death row.
execution in Nigeria, the country is rated among the top 10 nations having its
citizens and foreigners on death row.
The only edge Nigeria has over China,
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United States, Pakistan and Yemen is that it has
the least executions – four persons from Edo State – as against thousands in
China and hundreds in other countries.
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United States, Pakistan and Yemen is that it has
the least executions – four persons from Edo State – as against thousands in
China and hundreds in other countries.
From the records of Amnesty
International, of the 10 most active nations in the handing out of death
sentences and executions China leads the pack, with thousands of inmates
executed and awaiting trial.
International, of the 10 most active nations in the handing out of death
sentences and executions China leads the pack, with thousands of inmates
executed and awaiting trial.
Iran is next with 1,663 executions, 156
awaiting execution. Saudi Arabia has 423 and 54; Iraq 256 and 1,420; US 220 and
504; Pakistan 171 and 1,497; Yemen 152 and 109; North Korea 105 and none;
Vietnam 58 and 258 and Libya 39 and none, executions and awaiting execution
respectively.
awaiting execution. Saudi Arabia has 423 and 54; Iraq 256 and 1,420; US 220 and
504; Pakistan 171 and 1,497; Yemen 152 and 109; North Korea 105 and none;
Vietnam 58 and 258 and Libya 39 and none, executions and awaiting execution
respectively.
And as criticism continues to trail the
retention of the law that allows for the execution of criminals in Nigeria,
authorities of the Nigerian Prison Services (NPS) told LEADERSHIP Weekend that
there are 1,034 convicts on death row in the country.
retention of the law that allows for the execution of criminals in Nigeria,
authorities of the Nigerian Prison Services (NPS) told LEADERSHIP Weekend that
there are 1,034 convicts on death row in the country.
A breakdown of the figures shows that 20
are women and 1,034 are men, who are kept in various prisons across the
country.
are women and 1,034 are men, who are kept in various prisons across the
country.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend,
the NPS deputy comptroller and spokesman, Mr Ope Fatinikun further disclosed
that 467 persons are serving life imprisonment terms.
the NPS deputy comptroller and spokesman, Mr Ope Fatinikun further disclosed
that 467 persons are serving life imprisonment terms.
Fatinikun confirmed the number of
condemned inmates, known as “Condemned Convicts” (CCs). “It is true we
have over 1,000 condemned inmates in our various prisons across the nation.
condemned inmates, known as “Condemned Convicts” (CCs). “It is true we
have over 1,000 condemned inmates in our various prisons across the nation.
They are locked up for security reasons.
We have about 20 condemned female prisoners, eight ‘lifers’. We also have 1,014
condemned male inmates and 459 male ‘lifers’,” he said.
We have about 20 condemned female prisoners, eight ‘lifers’. We also have 1,014
condemned male inmates and 459 male ‘lifers’,” he said.
He however said that there were no
minors in jail, “as all prisoners aged 18 and below are usually sent to the
Borstal training institutions for reformation.
minors in jail, “as all prisoners aged 18 and below are usually sent to the
Borstal training institutions for reformation.
All prisoners that are 18 years and
below are sent to Borstal training centres in Kaduna, Ilorin and Abeokuta for
reformation,” he stated.
below are sent to Borstal training centres in Kaduna, Ilorin and Abeokuta for
reformation,” he stated.
When asked on the distribution of the
condemned across the federation, the NPS spokesman declined to provide such
information, citing security reasons. He only said some states have more
prisoners than others.
condemned across the federation, the NPS spokesman declined to provide such
information, citing security reasons. He only said some states have more
prisoners than others.
It was however learnt that Lagos State
tops the list, followed by Borno, Kaduna and Kano states.
tops the list, followed by Borno, Kaduna and Kano states.
On whether foreigners are on death row
in Nigerian prisons, Fatinikun said, “Definitely, we have some foreigners in
our prisons, but I am not going to tell you their nationalities and where they
are kept, for security reasons.”
in Nigerian prisons, Fatinikun said, “Definitely, we have some foreigners in
our prisons, but I am not going to tell you their nationalities and where they
are kept, for security reasons.”
Fatinikun however recalled the recent
conviction of a Lebanese national by an Abuja court for terrorism. According to
him, the prisoner is serving a life sentence in Kuje Prison.
conviction of a Lebanese national by an Abuja court for terrorism. According to
him, the prisoner is serving a life sentence in Kuje Prison.
The last executions carried out in
Nigeria were of four condemned prisoners on June 24, 2013 in Benin, when
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State signed the death warrants of Chima
Ejiofor, who was arrested in Edo State on November 29, 1994 and convicted on
August 21, 1998 at the age of 27, after spending 15 years in prison, and three
others.
Nigeria were of four condemned prisoners on June 24, 2013 in Benin, when
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State signed the death warrants of Chima
Ejiofor, who was arrested in Edo State on November 29, 1994 and convicted on
August 21, 1998 at the age of 27, after spending 15 years in prison, and three
others.
Daniel Nsofor, who was arrested in Edo
State on November 31, 1992 and convicted on June 19, 1996, spent 17 years after
conviction, with his right of appeal exhausted at the Supreme Court.
Osarenmwinda Aiguokhan, arrested on July 7, 1993 and convicted for armed
robbery by a military tribunal on January 18, 1996, spent 17 years after
conviction and Richard Igagu, arrested in 1994 and convicted on December 19,
1995 by an Edo State High Court spent 18 years in prison after conviction.
State on November 31, 1992 and convicted on June 19, 1996, spent 17 years after
conviction, with his right of appeal exhausted at the Supreme Court.
Osarenmwinda Aiguokhan, arrested on July 7, 1993 and convicted for armed
robbery by a military tribunal on January 18, 1996, spent 17 years after
conviction and Richard Igagu, arrested in 1994 and convicted on December 19,
1995 by an Edo State High Court spent 18 years in prison after conviction.
The execution of the prisoners in
Nigeria drew a backlash from some human rights groups within and outside the
country.
Nigeria drew a backlash from some human rights groups within and outside the
country.
Fatinikun said the NPS grants certain
specialists access to the prisoners on death row, such as criminologists,
psychologists, sociologists and chaplains and imams, to encourage them to hang
on to life.
specialists access to the prisoners on death row, such as criminologists,
psychologists, sociologists and chaplains and imams, to encourage them to hang
on to life.
The NPS also said that some of the
prisoners on death row were studying various courses at the National Open
University of Nigeria (NOUN), adding that, “It is only when someone dies that
acquiring of knowledge stops.”
prisoners on death row were studying various courses at the National Open
University of Nigeria (NOUN), adding that, “It is only when someone dies that
acquiring of knowledge stops.”
An Abuja-based lawyer, Nathaniel Ojile
said that the inability of some state governors to sign the death warrants of
condemned convicts was due to the moral burden such exerted.
said that the inability of some state governors to sign the death warrants of
condemned convicts was due to the moral burden such exerted.
Professor Josiah Shindu, a psychologist
and head of the Department of Psychology, Benue State University, Makurdi,
argued against the execution of prisoners in Nigeria.
and head of the Department of Psychology, Benue State University, Makurdi,
argued against the execution of prisoners in Nigeria.
He said research had shown that
prisoners on death row often regretted their terrible past after spending some
time in the prison.
prisoners on death row often regretted their terrible past after spending some
time in the prison.
“Many of them have sent messages to
relations, friends and peer groups not to follow in their footsteps after
listening to religious leaders, while a few insist on their innocence.”
relations, friends and peer groups not to follow in their footsteps after
listening to religious leaders, while a few insist on their innocence.”
Also, a sociologist at the Nasarawa
State University, Keffi, Dr Theophilus Lagi, was of the view that the Nigerian
justice system tends to protect the interests of some people over others.
State University, Keffi, Dr Theophilus Lagi, was of the view that the Nigerian
justice system tends to protect the interests of some people over others.
“Many governors are refusing to sign the
death warrants of condemned convicts, because of issues of morality, religion
and political undertones; they are scared of being seen as murderers,” he said.
death warrants of condemned convicts, because of issues of morality, religion
and political undertones; they are scared of being seen as murderers,” he said.
Source: Leadership
