CISA REPORT
Benin City, October 23, 2012 (CISA) – Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to halt preparations for execution of two inmates in Benin City prison saying the two were part of an ongoing appeal case.
Amnesty has asked the government to respect the appeals by the two inmates whose death warrants were signed three weeks ago by the Governor of Edo State in the Southwest of Nigeria, Adams Oshiomhole.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately halt any plans to execute the two prisoners on death row in Benin City prison,” said Lucy Freeman, Amnesty International’s Deputy Programme Director for Africa.
Prison wardens at Benin City prison were seen preparing gallows for the executions between Sunday night and Monday morning.
“To go ahead with any execution of prisoners when their death sentence is still being challenged in the courts is a flagrant violation of human rights.”
According to information received by Amnesty International, neither the convicted prisoners nor their families have been informed of the planned date of execution.
“Refusing to provide convicted persons and family members advance notice of the date and time of execution is a clear violation of human rights. It is cruel, inhuman and degrading.”
A Court of Appeal ruling is still pending after a further appeal was submitted by a Nigerian NGO, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, in March 2010 on behalf of the then 840 death row inmates, including the pair in Benin prison. An injunction was granted by the court upholding the appeal but it was lifted in April 2012.The judgment remains pending on a second appeal which was filed by the organisation the same month.
The Governor of Edo State signed the execution warrants after prison authorities informed him that the death row inmates in Benin City prison were ‘becoming unmanageable.’
“Amnesty International repeats that to execute detainees purely as a method of controlling ‘unmanageable’ inmates is arbitrary and a totally unacceptable violation of their right to life,” Freeman added.
The Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Osagie Obayuwana have previously refused to confirm when the executions would take place, but indicated the decision would be taken by the state prison authorities.
States which maintain the death penalty in law are obliged under international human rights law and standards to ensure transparency in its use.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
Benin City, October 23, 2012 (CISA) – Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to halt preparations for execution of two inmates in Benin City prison saying the two were part of an ongoing appeal case.
Amnesty has asked the government to respect the appeals by the two inmates whose death warrants were signed three weeks ago by the Governor of Edo State in the Southwest of Nigeria, Adams Oshiomhole.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately halt any plans to execute the two prisoners on death row in Benin City prison,” said Lucy Freeman, Amnesty International’s Deputy Programme Director for Africa.
Prison wardens at Benin City prison were seen preparing gallows for the executions between Sunday night and Monday morning.
“To go ahead with any execution of prisoners when their death sentence is still being challenged in the courts is a flagrant violation of human rights.”
According to information received by Amnesty International, neither the convicted prisoners nor their families have been informed of the planned date of execution.
“Refusing to provide convicted persons and family members advance notice of the date and time of execution is a clear violation of human rights. It is cruel, inhuman and degrading.”
A Court of Appeal ruling is still pending after a further appeal was submitted by a Nigerian NGO, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, in March 2010 on behalf of the then 840 death row inmates, including the pair in Benin prison. An injunction was granted by the court upholding the appeal but it was lifted in April 2012.The judgment remains pending on a second appeal which was filed by the organisation the same month.
The Governor of Edo State signed the execution warrants after prison authorities informed him that the death row inmates in Benin City prison were ‘becoming unmanageable.’
“Amnesty International repeats that to execute detainees purely as a method of controlling ‘unmanageable’ inmates is arbitrary and a totally unacceptable violation of their right to life,” Freeman added.
The Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Osagie Obayuwana have previously refused to confirm when the executions would take place, but indicated the decision would be taken by the state prison authorities.
States which maintain the death penalty in law are obliged under international human rights law and standards to ensure transparency in its use.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
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