Mixed reactions over governors’ delay in signing death penalty for criminals
A cross-section of Nasarawa State stakeholders have expressed mixed feelings over the reluctance of state governors to sign death warrants for condemned criminals.
The stakeholders expressed their opinions in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
While some argue that the governors are shirking their constitutional responsibilities, others contend that the decision to spare lives is moral and humane.
Barr. Pius Audu, a legal practitioner in the state, said that the governor’s decision was always influenced by the recommendation of the committee on the prerogative of mercy.
He explained that the committee usually recommends such cases to the governor and signs if he feels it appropriate; otherwise, he lessens the sentence to life imprisonment.
“It is not automatic for a governor to just sign a death warrant because the court condemned a convict, the law gives him the option to either sign or lessen the sentence.
“After a judgment of death sentence was passed by the court, there are a lot of procedures to be followed because of the importance attached to the life of a human being.
“The constitution of the country quarantined the right to life therefore, it cannot be taken easily,” the legal practitioner added.
The lawyer further explained that the condemned convict has the right under the law to appeal his or her death sentence.
He said that the convict has 90 days to appeal the death sentence and can even seek the leave of the court to file the appeal, and the appeal must be concluded and decided before any action can be taken.
“At the end of every procedure, if the governor does not feel inclined to grant the convict pardon, that is when he will sign the warrant for execution,” he stressed.
On whether those condemned to death were responsible for the congestion of Correctional Facilities, the legal practitioner said most of the inmates at the facilities are those awaiting trials and not convicts.
Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Lecturer with Nasarawa State University Keffi believes that the governors’ reluctance to sign death warrants undermines the rule of law and emboldens criminals.
He therefore called for the amendment of the law because, according to him, it is dangerous to give a politician such powers as they would be sentimental in taking certain decisions because of their political interest.
Also, Hanatu Bala, who spoke for civil societies, argued that the decision to sign death warrants is a complex one that requires careful consideration of various factors, including the fairness of the trial and the possibility of wrongful convictions.
