Kill or not kill: Unending debate about death penalty in Nigeria

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The issue of the death penalty has continued to stir emotions across Nigeria’s social and political divides, because while international law discourages the imposition of the death penalty, Nigeria is one of the countries that still retain the use of the death sentence as capital punishment in its criminal law and penal code, with judges in the High and Sharia courts sentencing convicted persons to death for numerous crimes, including non-lethal crimes.

In 2021, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbeshola, came under heavy backlash when he reportedly recommended the execution of death row inmates as a form of decongesting the correctional facilities which are, in fact, overpopulated mostly by over 72% of awaiting trial inmates. What he intended to be a light-hearted comment turned boorish, stirred debates, and renewed calls for the abolition of the death penalty.

Indeed, a system that cannot give justice should not take life and a state that must take life must first give justice.

A former Nigerian Vice president during the military era, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, was once asked about the deteriorating living condition of inmates. He quickly fired back, “Is prison a hotel?” His response, unfortunately, mirrors the mindset of successive Nigerian governments toward the welfare condition of death row inmates. Four out of every five Nigerian prisons were built before 1950.

 

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There should be no debate about this. It is proven beyond doubt that the death penalty is an effective deterrent against many crimes

If he molested a child, if he took a life, if he kidnapped and if he destroyed or sabotaged electricity and train infrastructure...send them to hell. Yes...I used he deliberately. Enough is enough. Please add if he embezzled money as a sitting Gov or minister or president.

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To Kill Or Not To Kill: Unending Debate About Death Penalty in Nigeria By Damian Ugwu | Sahara Reportersthe harrowing spell condemned inmates go through daily in solitary cells, humbled by the force of an impending death that seems to be an eternity. It is within this context that an NGO is currently in court challenging the 36 state governors on the grounds that the imposition of the death penalty constitutes torture and cruel treatment.
Source: SaharaReporters - 🏆 9. / 63 Read more »