Amnesty International (AI) has cautioned Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu against giving approval for the execution of prisoners on death row.
The group in a statement also asked the governor to take immediate steps to revoke such approval in case he has already authorised one.
The International agency insisted that death penalty in any form or shape, and regardless of the nature of crime committed, has no place in the 21st Century.
The statement made available to Igbere TV on Friday, was issued by AI Director, Osai Ojigho.
The agency while expressing concern over possible resumption of executions in Nigeria, said it was alarmed by March 27, 2019 report quoting Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adekola Olawoye, to the effect that the state governor would soon commence the signing of execution warrants.
“Since the declaration was made, Amnesty International has received a report that the Ondo State Governor may have signed executions warrant.
“Governor Rotimi Akeredolu must recognise that the death penalty is a cruel punishment that has no place in the 21st century and we ask him to respect the right to life,” Ojigho said.
The AI Director added, “No matter what the crime is, who the prisoner is, or the method of execution used, nothing can justify the deliberate taking of human life by the government.
“There is no convincing evidence that the death penalty deters crime better than imprisonment, therefore the death penalty is an ineffective punishment. The possible resumption of execution in Nigeria will constitute a setback for the country and it should be avoided, particularly as the world is moving away from the use of the death penalty.”
He further noted that the last time Nigeria carried out an execution was in December 2016 when three men were executed in Benin City prison.
Igbere TV gathered that over 2,000 death row prisoners are currently in detention facilities across the country.
Those whose rights of appeal have been exhausted risk execution and could be executed as soon as the state governor authorises their death warrants.
Findings by Igbere TV revealed that since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 most state governors have not signed executions warrants.
