Two Convicts Sentenced to Death in Kano
The Kano State High Court on Monday sentenced two people to death by hanging for murdering a businessman in 2005.
The duo was convicted on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
The convicts were arraigned before the court in 2007 for hitting one Sule Adamu on the head with a stick before cutting his throat with a knife.
The prosecution team, led by Senior State Counsel Bashir Sale, told the court that the offences were punishable under Sections 221(b) and 97(1) of the Penal Code.
Sale presented six witnesses during the trial and also tendered the knife that was used to commit the crime as exhibit.
Justice Nuhu Galadanci ordered that the two convicts be hanged by the neck.
The verdict was delivered after recent criticism from the Nigerian Catholic bishops, which was contained in a statement signed by Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos, against the execution of four convicts in Edo State.
Kaigama described the executions as a clear departure from modernity to savagery, adding that they believe that other actions aimed at reforming criminals would do better good to the society than capital punishment.
Amnesty International had earlier called on the Federal Government to stop the execution of five men sentenced to death by hanging in Edo State. A Federal High Court in Benin had rejected a lawsuit filed in October 2012 against three execution warrants and another two warrants in May 2013, the warrants were later signed by the State Governor, Adams Oshiomole.
Lucy Freeman, the Deputy Director for Africa at Amnesty International described the court’s decision as a major setback for justice and human rights in Africa.
The organisation opposes death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime, or the individual’s guilt or innocence, referring to it as a violation of the right to life, cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
According to Amnesty International’s Death Sentences and Execution 2012 report, there have been no executions in the country since 2006. It said 56 people were sentenced to death last year while approximately 1000 people are presently on death row in the country.
Source: Legit.ng
